Different approaches to the design of dispersive mirrors (DMs) for ultrafast applications are considered. High efficiency and good quality of solutions are achieved due to a completely analytical approach to the computations of all DM characteristics and a modern version of the needle optimization technique. Different means to suppress group delay dispersion (GDD) oscillations are demonstrated. Alternatively, design approaches not based on GDD optimization are described, including time-domain design approaches based on direct optimization of pulse energy concentration.