A pattern implementation technique in which a pattern is defined as a software artifact that comprises a pattern signature representing one or more parameters of the pattern and a pattern implementation model representing one or more methods for expanding the pattern in a selected software context by assigning one or more arguments to the one or more parameters. The pattern implementation model can be based on one or more framework code sets, each of which supports the creation of plural patterns by providing a pattern implementation model for a particular software context. The framework code sets can be rendered extensible by a pattern author by virtue of providing methods whose code is adapted to be modified by a pattern author when defining a pattern. The pattern can be applied by creating an instance of the pattern in a software context and presenting a graphical representation of the pattern instance that can be manipulated by the pattern user in order to apply arguments to the pattern parameters.