PLoPD-5 Call for Contributions

We are ready to begin working on the fifth Book in Addison-Wesley's PLoPD Series. This volume will draw from the best of the patterns which have been workshopped at the various PLoP conferences, from 1999 through 2004. Submissions will be due by mid-December 2004, with publication expected in October 2005.

Previous books in the series as well as other books on software patterns raised the bar high. We will continue their tradition. To that end, here's what we're looking for:

1. Technical strength. We expect patterns that describe proven work, presented in a way that convinces the reader(s) about this beyond reasonable doubt. For example, including known uses outside the author's own work may be a way to demonstrate this point.
2. Completeness. We expect that each pattern to explore all aspects of the problem (i.e., the forces) and address them explicitly, regardless of the presentation format. For example, if one force is Availability then you must discuss how the solution affects it (positively, negatively, or none).
3. Relationship to other patterns. We expect that the authors carefully explain the relationship with other patterns from the literature. For example, if the pattern is a Proxy variant you should reference the GoF? and POSA1 proxies and discuss how your proxy is different.
4. Patterns format. We expect the presentation format to be clear. We encourage (but do not require) that the patterns use a well-established format. For example, you could choose the POSA1 format. Patterns that use a well established format efficiently are more likely to be accepted than papers that use a novel format for no obvious reason.
5. Page limit. We expect short, succinct papers that cover one thing well rather than broad, shallow papers that make ambitious claims over large areas of software development. There are no page limits. However, if your submission will take 2/3 of the book you should consider writing a book rather than contributing to this volume.
6. Writing style. We expect papers that are easy to read (i.e., written clearly, with grace and style). We strongly recommend that you have your drafts workshopped by colleagues, friends, co-workers, before submitting them to the book.

Note that due to the production deadlines we will be unable to offer assistance to authors to improve their work. In addition, here are some other rules of the game:

1. Authors of existing or soon-to-be-published books. If you've already published your PLoP patterns as a book we ask that you give others a chance to contribute to PLoPD5.
2. Multiple submissions. If you have several papers that you're considering for submission (as primary or secondary author) we ask that submit only two of them.
3. Working with other authors. We will ask authors of accepted papers to work with the authors contributing to the same chapter on making the chapter cohesive. We reserve the right to pull out the accepted papers whose authors do not complete this work.
4. Authors to review submission. For every paper that you submit for consideration, you will need to review two other submissions.
5. Timeliness. We will discard any papers whose authors miss deadlines throughout the editing process.

Please submit your chapters to http://www.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/~cyberchair/submit/

before the due date.