editorial pointers.

The article focuses on the software patterns that have garnered a great deal of industry attention as they systematically resolve difficult dilemmas that frequently occur in the analysis, design, and programming of software systems. It is particularly relevant today as software becomes increasingly complex. The reuse factor offers obvious benefits. But identifying and reapplying software patterns can introduce additional pitfalls as well. The challenge is to document those patterns used by successful developers. The October 1996 issue of the journal "Communications of the ACM," features a special section that focuses on some of those success stories. Guest editors Doug Schmidt, Mohamed Fayad, and Ralph Johnson have secured some of the leaders in the field to present the latest trends in software patterns. The comprehensive articles in this journal present pattern plots focusing on efficient, reliable, scalable, concurrent, parallel, and distributed programming. An article in this issue presents an infrastructure for associating labels with Internet content also known as Platform for Internet Content Selection, an effort of the World Wide Web Consortium, which allows parents, schools, and employers to set their own network restrictions.