General talk about software patterns

[Ville Reijonen <vilre AT cs.tut.fi>]

We are proud to announce that there will be VikingPLoP 2012 after a 
break of couple of years. VikingPLop is the Nordic conference on Pattern 
Languages of Programs. First VikingPLoP was held in Denmark in 2002.

CALL FOR PAPERS

VikingPLoP 2012
The Nordic Conference on Pattern Languages of Programs
March 17-20, 2012
Boahtteáigi, Saariselkä, Finland
http://www.vikingplop.org


Important Dates
---------------

* January 16th: EXTENDED paper submission deadline
* January 23rd: Start of shepherding
* February 9th: Second draft due
* February 10th: Paper acceptance notification
* March 2nd: End of shepherding
* March 2nd: Final version due
* March 2nd: Closing date for early registration
* March 17-20, 2012: Conference
* September 30: Proceedings version due

VikingPLoP is a Nordic PLoP conference. VikingPLoP 2012 will be held in 
Saariselkä, Finland from 17th to 20th of March. The location is in the 
middle of ruggedly beautiful wilderness of Lapland with marvelous 
landscape and wondrous fells. In March the snowy Lapland nature is at 
its best. The venue is easy to reach by airplane as it is in the 
vicinity of Saariselkä ski resort.

The conference offers writers' workshops that allow you to learn about 
patterns, to receive feedback on your own work, and to discuss with 
fellow pattern enthusiasts. It is an excellent venue to exchange 
knowledge about patterns and learn from other experts. We especially 
encourage new-comers and non-academic pattern enthusiasts to participate 
in the conference. Open and supportive community makes VikingPLop a 
great opportunity to get familiar with patterns and PLoP culture

VikingPLoP 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 VikingPLoP cover a wide range of subjects, 
from technical issues, like distributed machine control and C++ 
programming, to social and organization issues.

The submitted papers should contain one or more patterns and have up to 
10 pages following LNCS format guidelines. 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. First-time pattern 
authors are especially welcomed to participate in the conference. If any 
questions will arise, contact the conference chairs.

The core of VikingPLoP is 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 accepted 
submissions will be workshopped and peer-reviewed in the conference.


Proceedings
-----------

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. The proceedings of the workshops is 
published in the report series of Tampere University of Technology, 
Department of Software Systems. The proceedings is published as a 
printed version and electronically (as a pdf-file).


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 for 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:

* Initial submissions should be made by January 16th, 2012. Papers will 
be assessed for suitability. Papers are then accepted for shepherding 
and assigned a shepherd who will help the author improve the paper for 
several weeks.

* Half way through the shepherding process, on February 9th, authors are 
expected to submit a second draft. The paper will be assessed for 
quality and the author's willingness to accept feedback. 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 March 2, 2012. Final drafts for the conference should be submitted 
on this date. The authors of accepted papers are also expected to 
register for the conference before the close of early registration on 
this date. 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 registrations.


To submit your first version of the paper, please visit VikingPLoP 
website, http://www.vikingplop.org/submission.html


Conference Organization
-----------------------

Program chairs:
* Veli-Pekka Eloranta, Tampere University of Technology, Finland,
  veli-pekka.eloranta (at) tut.fi
* Marko Leppänen, Tampere University of Technology, Finland,
  marko.leppanen (at) tut.fi

Program committee:
* Ville Reijonen, Kauppalehti Online Development, Finland
* Johannes Koskinen, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
* Juha Pärssinen, VTT, Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
* Kai Koskimies, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
* James O. Coplien, Gertrud&Cope, Denmark


For more information, please visit http://www.vikingplop.org/