July 13-17, 2011, Irsee Monastery, Bavaria, Germany

Call for Papers

Download short version of Call for Papers as PDF [34 KB].

EuroPLoP 2011
16th Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs
July 13-17, 2011
Irsee Monastery, Bavaria, Germany
http://www.hillside.net/europlop

Important Dates

Proceedings published in the ACM Digital Library (approval pending).

EuroPLoP is the premier European conference on patterns about software and its creation. The conference offers a variety of workshops that allow you to learn about patterns, to receive feedback on your own work, and to discuss with fellow enthusiasts. It is a unique venue to exchange knowledge about best practices and learn from other experts in various fields.

EuroPLoP 2011 will be held July 13-17, 2011 in Bavaria, Germany. Join us for an experience that will combine outstanding technical events with a visit to the lovely Bavarian countryside.

EuroPLoP accepts papers containing patterns or pattern languages as well as experience reports and papers related to the theory and use of patterns. Papers submitted to EuroPLoP cover a wide range of subjects, from technical issues, like Java coding techniques, to social and organization issues. In previous years, papers have clustered around subjects such as:

Submission Categories

Submissions should fall into one of the following categories:

Pattern papers

Short papers (5 to 10 pages) containing one or more patterns. Longer pattern languages or sequences and work-in-progress papers will also be considered for inclusion. All accepted papers will receive in-depth shepherding by an experienced pattern author before the conference. Papers may receive further shepherding at the conference itself.
First-time pattern authors are welcome to contact the conference chairs (see below) to receive an introductory information pack.

Papers on applying patterns

Papers on the application of patterns in practice. The focus of these papers should be on applications of patterns in industrial projects, as well as on systematizing the application of patterns. They should stimulate a general discussion on how to disseminate the patterns literature more widely in higher education and training. This track hopes to provide visibility to research attempts for integrating patterns in software engineering industrial practices.

Focus group proposals

Focus groups are free-format discussion groups or workshops lasting approximately three hours. They are designed to bring together people who are interested in a challenging topic related to patterns or proven practices. Non-conventional ideas such as goldfish bowls are welcome. Focus Group proposals are invited in advance of the conference. Those submissions considered relevant and of sufficient quality will be provisionally accepted to the conference. As in the previous years, participants attending the conference will be invited to propose additional focus groups for the final day of the conference.

Conference Structure

The core of EuroPLoP is a series of writers' workshops where authors work together to improve their papers. Before patterns or other papers are accepted for a writers' workshop, they are shepherded (non-anonymously). This means that an experienced author will discuss your submission with you, so that you can refine your paper prior to the conference. All submissions will be peer-reviewed.

Post shepherding papers may be accepted directly into a conference workshop, or into a writing group. Writing Group papers will receive additional face-to-face shepherding at the conference itself. Writing Group papers reaching the required standard will be considered for workshop review on the final day of the conference.

Papers discussed at a writer's workshop at this conference qualify for submission to the new journal Transactions on Pattern Languages of Programming published by Springer.

Shepherding

The shepherding process is essentially a reviewing process. The Shepherd guides the sheep into a more mature understanding of his or her pattern. Shepherds are individuals, with experience in pattern writing, assigned to an author's paper with the expressed interest in helping the author improve the pattern. Shepherds also have experience with the shepherding procedure, either having been a shepherd before or a sheep(an author).
Shepherding is about improving the pattern itself, while the Shepherd maintains that the author is the one doing the pattern writing. The shepherding process is done before the paper is to be presented at a conference.

Submission Procedure

There is a three stage submission process:

To submit your paper in the first instance, please visit the submission page (available in January) on this website.

Conference Organization

Program Chair
Paris Avgeriou, University of Groningen, Netherlands,
Conference Chair
Andreas Fiesser, Germany,
Web Chair
Michael Weiss, Carleton University, Canada,