Engineering
As we build a definition of PBE, let's next define engineering. Engineering is "the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to structures, machines, products, systems, or processes."8
As we are dealing with software, it makes sense to look at a definition that is a little more targeted to the work we do. So software engineering is defined as "the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software; that is, the application of engineering to software."9
With definitions of patterns and engineering as they relate to software development in mind, we are now in a position to consider a definition for Patterns-Based Engineering.