General talk about software patterns

[Linda Rising <risingl AT tds.net>]

Sorry for multiple posts!!



CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

This is your invitation to participate in this year’s Pattern Languages 
of Programs (PLoP) conference and share your knowledge with experts in 
your field. Patterns help to shape our world in a positive way by 
reporting successful solutions that have shown to work in the past. 
Whether you have been a pattern author in the past or wonder why no one 
has written down those patterns you know all too well, this is your 
chance to contribute your expertise and receive feedback from pattern 
experts and practitioners!

PLoP is the premier international conference on patterns. The purpose of 
PLoP is to promote the development of pattern languages, primarily about 
aspects of software: design and programming, testing, software 
architecture, user interface design, domain modeling, education, human 
relations, and software processes. Patterns and pattern languages for 
domains outside software are also welcome.

PLoP 2012 will take place October 19-21 in Tucson, Arizona in 
conjunction with the SPLASH (formerly OOPSLA) conference. At the PLoP 
2012 conference you will meet pattern enthusiasts from all over the 
world, learn about successful designs and architectures, and receive 
constructive feedback from your peers on your own writing.

IMPORTANT DATES

Initial Draft Submission deadline: May 20, 2012
Start of shepherding: June 11, 2012
Focus Groups Submission: August 1, 2012
Second draft due for review: August 6, 2012
Notification of acceptance: August 27, 2012
Early registration ends: September 13, 2012
Conference versions due: September 15, 2012
PLoP conference days: October 21-23, 2011
Proceedings versions due: January, 2013

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

PLoP accepts papers containing patterns or pattern languages as well as 
experience reports and papers related to the theory and use of patterns. 
In addition, you can submit proposals for free-format discussion groups 
or workshops that bring together people interested in a hot topic 
related to patterns or proven practices. Proposals addressing 
interdisciplinary topics and topics from other domains than software 
development are especially encouraged. Non-conventional formats are 
welcome. Submissions should fall into one of the following categories:

Pattern Papers
Short papers (5 to 12 pages) containing one or more patterns. 
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. These papers will be discussed at 
the conference in the Writers Workshop format.

Pattern Language Papers
Long papers containing pattern languages or sequences. The accepted 
papers will also receive in-depth shepherding by an experienced pattern 
author before the conference, however depending on the paper size only a 
piece of it may be analyzed. These papers will be discussed at the 
conference in longer Focus Group session.

Papers on Applying Patterns
Papers on practical application of patterns. 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.

Best Practices Papers
Experience shows that certain pattern papers may feel "artificial" in 
the sense that although the content and writing style is very good, 
forcing it into one of the traditional pattern forms does not benefit 
the reader. The Best Practices category introduces an alternative to the 
traditional papers where content can be presented as an essay or in a 
more classical article or paper style.

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. Focus 
groups proposals should be sent by email to plopchairs2012 AT hillside.net 
with [PLoP Focus Group Proposal] on the subject.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

The core of PLoP is a series of Writers' Workshops where authors work 
together to improve their papers. Before papers are accepted for a 
Writers' Workshop, they are shepherded. Shepherding is an iterative 
process where an experienced author discusses the submission with the 
authors with the goal of refining the paper prior to the conference. All 
submissions are peer-reviewed.

Following the shepherding, papers may be accepted directly into a 
Writers' Workshop, or into the 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.

The PLoP proceedings are published after the conference through the ACM 
Digital Library. Papers discussed at a Writers' Workshop at PLoP qualify 
for submission to the new journal Transactions on Pattern Languages of 
Programming published by Springer.You will find more information on: 
(http://hillside.net/patterns/tplop).

There is a three stage submission process:

Initial submissions are assessed for suitability. Accepted papers are 
assigned a shepherd who will help the author improve the paper.
Half way through the shepherding process, 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 until the final drafts 
are due.

To submit your paper, please visit: 
http://www.hillside.net/plop/2012/submission . The final version of the 
paper should be submitted in the PDF format (produced on a 
high-resolution output device) on letter paper size (8 1/2" x 11") 
following the ACM single column format. Initial submissions that don't 
follow the format will be accepted, but the last version should follow 
the templates to be published on the ACM library. ACM single column 
templates are available in Word and LaTex:

Single column format Word template: Single Column Template
Single column format TeX template: TeX Template

At least one of the authors of accepted papers are expected to register 
for the conference before the close of early-bird registration. Failure 
to do so may result in acceptance being withdrawn.

For more information, please visit: http://hillside.net/plop/2012/

I am looking forward to reading your submissions, learning about the 
patterns that you have observed, and to meeting you in Tucson. Welcome 
to PLoP 2012!

On behalf of PLoP 2012 and the Hillside Group,

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Eduardo Guerra
PLoP 2012 - Conference Chair
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