EuroPLoP 2004, Call for Contribution

(Our apologies if you receive multiple copies of this CfC)



EuroPLoP(tm) 2004

Ninth European Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs

07th-11th July 2004

Irsee, Germany

http://hillside.net/europlop/



EuroPLoP 2004 - Call for Contributions



Mature design and engineering disciplines often have handbooks describing
common solutions to known problems. Bridge designers do not design bridges
from first principles each time; they adapt solutions from a proven body of
knowledge.

Patterns can be the basis for software engineering handbooks. They embody
core solutions to problems known to arise while building systems. A complete
pattern language can guide developers in producing workable software by
addressing many common design problems.

The PLoP(tm) Conference Series

------------------------------

EuroPLoP(tm) is the European member of the PLoP(tm) conference series. The
PLoP(tm) conferences invite you to add your expertise to the growing body of
patterns literature. Other conferences in the PLoP(tm) series include (US)
PLoP(tm), ChiliPLoP(tm), KoalaPLoP(tm), MensorePLoP(tm) and
SugarLoafPLoP(tm).

These conferences follow a different format from conferences such as OOPSLA.
The focus here is on learning, discussion and reflection, not on the
presentation of finished or traditionally academic work. At a

PLoP(tm) series conference, attendees review each others material and help
one another to refine their work, run workshops and engage in fruitful
discussions.

Against the scenic backdrop of rural Bavaria, EuroPLoP offers a variety of
workshops that allow you to learn about patterns, to receive feedback on
your own patterns, and to discuss patterns with fellow pattern enthusiasts.

Writers' Workshops

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Writers' workshops are at the heart of the EuroPLoP programme. In these
workshops we discuss pattern papers accepted for the conference. Pattern
papers may consist of an individual pattern, a collection of related
patterns or a whole pattern language.

Writers' workshops follow a format that has been adopted from the creative
writing community. The style is that of a peer review. Rather than standing
up and presenting papers, authors will receive feedback on their papers,
with the opportunity to offer feedback to other authors. This approach
reinforces the principle that pattern papers form a literature intended to
capture and communicate existing practice. Both the papers and the workshop
format are therefore in contrast to the more conventional approaches found
in academic and commercial conferences.

Each writers' workshop contains around five to eight papers. A session of
around one hour is devoted to each paper. The workshop attendees will have
read the papers allocated to the workshop prior to the conference. During
the session the author of the paper under discussion remains silent while
the other authors discuss it, explaining what additional insights and views
they have, offering constructive criticism throughout. Authors should stay
with the workshop containing their papers over the entire conference.
Non-authors should select a workshop of interest and, once selected, also
remain with that group throughout the conference. This stability encourages
communication, ensures the consistency of feedback and enables the group to
develop a good rapport.

Before pattern papers are accepted for a writers' workshop, they are
shepherded non-anonymously. This means that if you submit a pattern paper,
an experienced pattern author will get in touch with you to discuss your
submission. Shepherding is an integral and iterative part of the submission
process intended to assist you in improving your paper prior to the
conference.

At the end of the shepherding process, the shepherd and the programme
committee decide whether a paper is ready for a writers' workshop.
Experience shows that, after shepherding, most submitted papers qualify.
Because the focus of the writers' workshops is on feedback and improvement,
papers are not considered final even when they have been workshopped.
Authors incorporate the feedback they receive at the writers' workshop into
their papers before the papers go into the final proceedings the year
following the conference.

Writing Groups

--------------

Pattern writing groups offer the chance for pattern authors to work on the
form and the content of their patterns in an interactive session. In this
session an experienced author acts as a mentor and is available for
questions the author may have, for ideas and discussions. As in previous
years we hope to have two different writing groups:

(1) The main writing group is meant for papers that are not yet considered
ready for a writers' workshop. Papers can be assigned to this writing group
if, at the end of the shepherding process, the shepherd and the programme
committee feel that the author would profit more from an interactive session
than from going straight into a writers' workshop. Papers that are felt to
improve sufficiently during these writing group sessions have the
opportunity to be reviewed at one of the writers' workshops towards the end
of the conference.

(2) The other writing group is part of the introductory track. It is meant
for new authors who have not submitted a pattern paper to the conference,
but who would like to take a first step at writing patterns.

Focus Groups

------------

Focus groups are usually free-format discussion groups which bring together
people who are interested in a challenging topic related to patterns. They
bring up issues such as using patterns, organising patterns, experiences
with patterns or putting together pattern languages in a design fest, etc.
Interdisciplinary topics are particularly welcome since they help us to
learn from other domains. For instance, from the less mainstream areas of
computing, such as artificial intelligence, to other areas of human
creativity, such as building architecture, mechanical engineering, music or
film making. For EuroPLoP 2003 we want to encourage potential focus group
leaders to submit sessions which seek to explore the links between software
design and design in other disciplines.

We distinguish between short and long focus groups, with a total of three or
six hours, respectively, split into blocks of an hour and a half. We plan to
have three or four focus groups at the conference.

Prospective focus group leaders are invited to submit proposals. The
submission should include the topic, the preferred length, preferred number
of participants, and the rough format, e.g. whether position papers are
required and what the possible focus group outputs would be. Focus group
proposals will be reviewed by the programme committee. The accepted focus
groups will be announced in advance of the conference. Most focus groups
allow conference attendees to simply join at the

conference; however, focus group leaders are free to ask participants to
register in advance and to do some kind of preparation, if they wish. After
the conference, the focus group leader summarizes the results in form of a
short focus group report which will go into the final conference
proceedings.

Introductory Track

------------------

The introductory track consists of three sessions aimed at EuroPLoP

newcomers:

(1) The first session will take place at the beginning of the conference and
will be led by experienced pattern authors and conference participants. In
this session you learn about patterns in general, you get an overview of
what patterns exist, you learn how patterns can improve the development of
software, and you get exposed to the idea of pattern languages. This session
also tells you about EuroPLoP, including its traditions and conventions.

(2) The second session is the writing group, where an experienced pattern
author gives an introduction to pattern writing.

(3) The third session, on the third day of the conference, is a kind of a
FAQ session where you have the opportunity to ask about anything they didn't
understand about patterns, pattern languages, the pattern community, the
conference, etc.

Non-technical Activities

------------------------

One of the distinctive features of the PLoP(tm) series of conferences is the
emphasis we place on non-technical, lateral-thinking activities. We try to
create an environment that exercises the parts of the mind and body that
have little to do with developing software, and more to do with finding and
writing patterns. These other activities include:

Games: Morning and afternoon games led by our 'Querdenker-Koordinator',
George Platts. These non-competitive games are one of the highlights of
EuroPLoP. Many new friendships have been formed whilst untying human knots
or making a 5 metre high 'mushroom'!

Art studio: Also hosted by George, the art studio is open throughout most of
each day during the conference. Many different materials are available for
anyone to go and relax, be creative and to listen to music.

BoF Sessions

------------

'Birds of a Feather' sessions are spontaneous events, organised during the
conference. Any attendee may call for a BoF session. The content and format
of a BoF session is up to the group joining the session. Please contact the
conference chairs during the conference, or beforehand if you wish, to kick
off a BoF session.

Special Sessions

----------------

Welcome session: This is the first proper session of the conference. There
will also be a writers' workshop demo, an overview of the non- workshop
conference activities, and an opportunity for everyone to meet one another.

Daily summary: A final session at the end of each day that gives everyone a
chance to find out what went on in the sessions they could not attend, plus
any other news.

Farewell session: Led by George Platts, this session is the traditional
close of the conference. Get the latest information about publication, next
year's conference and other hot topics, and the opportunity to say farewell
to all the friends you have made and met.

Important Dates

---------------

21st February Papers and focus group proposals due

01st March Shepherding starts

22th March Focus groups published

17th May Notification of acceptance

Conference registration opens


11th June Shepherding ends

Conference drafts due

05th July Conference registration closes

07th-11th July Conference

Early 2005 Final versions of papers due for proceedings

Focus group reports due for proceedings

Submission Guidelines

---------------------

A pattern paper should consist of an individual pattern, a collection of
related patterns or a pattern language. Note that pattern experience
reports, tutorials and other papers that are about patterns, but that do not
actually present patterns, are not the intended target for the writers'
workshops. However, the content of such papers may provide a suitable basis
for focus groups and BoF sessions.

All aspects of software development are suitable topics for submitted
patterns, pattern collections or pattern languages. We invite pattern papers
on programming, software design, project management, education, etc. In
particular, submissions from domains not previously covered by the patterns
literature are welcome. The actual subject of a pattern need not be
original; it is essential that a pattern describes mature knowledge.
However, patterns should always reference related work, both related pattern
material and related non-pattern material.

Authors should submit an electronic copy of their paper in English. We
recommend that submissions not exceed 10 pages. However, complete pattern
languages and mature collections can be longer than that. In such cases
authors should either identify a part of their paper on which the feedback
should be concentrated or invite feedback on the paper as a whole, but not
on specific details.

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Klaus Marquardt, Dräger, Germany pattern@kmarquardt.de

Dietmar Schütz, Siemens AG, Germany dietmar.schuetz@siemens.com