So the tricky part is, which patterns are actually strong enough yet not necessarily obtrusive, so that you can start applying them early on? That’s a million dollar question.
That’s what experience is for. Design patterns aren’t rules for a reason - they have a time and a place to apply them.
It’s difficult to say exactly when you should use any given pattern much less a pattern “generally.” Typically it’s when “it’s better to use it then when it’s not” which is very hand-wavy.
It takes experience to be able to say “ahh, what I’m doing here is a good match for a ______ pattern given what I want to accomplish”.
What I will say is that if you’re doing professional development (rather than something experimental or for personal use) then it’s likely you will want to at least consider using a pattern if one exists that matches your use-case. And understand why you do or don’t follow said pattern.
netvor