[ecoop-info] EuroPLoP 2012 - Call for Papers

[Andreas Fießer]

This is the Call for Papers for EuroPLoP 2012. 
If you have never written a pattern before this is your call! As an
experienced author you are of course just as much welcome.
If you receive this email multiple times please do not read it multiple
times. Instead spread it to multiple people who you think have not received
it yet but are grateful if they do. 

Thanks,
Andi and Chris

Download the short version of this call and spread it (as printed handout if
you like):  
http://hillside.net/europlop/europlop2012/europlop_2012_short_cfp.pdf [97
KB].

For easier reading please find an HTML version of this CfP at
http://hillside.net/europlop/europlop2012/cfp.php
---

You have never written a Pattern before. Why should you do so?

- Patterns are a great way of getting a new view on things that you think
you know by heart.
- Patterns are a way to pass on your knowledge to others in an easily
understandable way.
- Patterns make your thoughts available to others to give you feedback.


How can you benefit from this?

Prepare a paper and submit it to a Pattern conference. The premier pattern
conference for Europe is EuroPLoP, the next one held in July 2012:

EuroPLoP 2012
17th Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs
July 11-15, 2012
Irsee Monastery, Bavaria, Germany
http://www.europlop.net

Experienced pattern authors are of course also welcome to join EuroPLoP. If
you ask them they will confirm that unlike for other conferences

Your paper does not need to be perfect!

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.

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

First-time pattern authors are welcome to contact the conference chairs (see
below) to receive an introductory information pack.


Important dates on the way to EuroPLoP 2012

- February 6, 2012: Paper submission deadline
- February 27, 2012: Shepherding starts, Registration opens
- May 7, 2012: Paper acceptance notification
- July 11-15, 2012: Conference

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

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.


How does it work?

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. These fields include

- software
- pedagogy
- business and organization
- HCI
- ...

Join us for an experience that will combine outstanding technical events
with a visit to the lovely Bavarian countryside. It is a carefree escape
that gives you room to develop new ideas.


Submission Categories

EuroPLoP accepts papers containing patterns or pattern languages as well as
experience reports and papers related to the theory and use of patterns.
Submissions should fall into one of the following categories:

1. 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.

2. 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 industrial practices.

3. 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.


Some more information on 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:

All accepted papers will receive in-depth shepherding by an experienced
pattern author before the conference.
    
Initial submissions should be made by February 6, 2012. Papers will be
assessed for suitability. Accepted papers are then assigned a shepherd who
will help the author improve the paper for several weeks.
Half way through the shepherding process, on April 16, authors are expected
to submit a second draft. The paper will be assessed for quality and the
author's willingness to accept feedback considered. This review will
determine whether a paper is accepted to the conference or not.
Authors and shepherds are expected to continue working on the paper until
June 18. Final drafts for the conference should be submitted on this date.

Authors of accepted papers are expected to register for the conference
before the close of early-bird registration on May 21. Failure to do so may
result in acceptance being withdrawn. In the case of papers with multiple
authors at least one author is expected to register to attend by the close
of early bird registrations.

To submit your paper in the first instance, please visit the submission page
(available in January) on our website http://www.europlop.net.


Conference Organization

Program Chair
Andreas Fiesser, Germany, patterns at fiesser.de

Conference Chair
Christian Kohls, Germany, christian at kohls.de

Please feel free to contact us about any questions on the conference,
Pattern writing or the introductory information pack.