Call for Participation Third European Conference on Pattern Languages of Programming and Computing July 9-11, 1998 Kloster Irsee D-87660 Irsee Germany

About EuroPLoP

Mature engineering disciplines have handbooks describing solutions to known problems. Bridge designers don't design bridges using the laws of physics, they adapt solutions from the handbook known to work well enough.

Patterns can be the basis for a handbook of software engineering. They encode core solutions to problems known to arise while building systems. A complete pattern language would guide developers to produce workable software solving ordinary problems.

The PLoP conference series invites you to add your expertise to the growing body of patterns. PLoP conference's focus is improving the expression of patterns. You will have the opportunity to refine and extend your patterns with help from knowledgeable and sympathetic fellow pattern enthusiasts.

EuroPLoP is the European member of the PLoP conference family. It is held in Kloster Irsee, an old Bavarian Monastery about 100 km south-west of Munich, Germany. Other conferences in the PLoP series include (US) PLoP and ChilliPLoP

Core Program

Writer's Workshops and Pattern Writing Workshops

Both PLoP and EuroPLoP follow a different format than other conferences such as OOPSLA. The goal is to give pattern authors as much feedback as possible on their work. We want other authors to tell you what they think about your patterns, what additional insights and views they have. Every pattern and pattern language is discussed this way.

There are two kinds of workshop. "Writer's Workshops" are adopted from reviewing poetry and take the form of a peer review amongst all the authors participating. "Pattern Writing Workshops" on the other hand offer the chance for pattern authors to work on the form and content of their pattern in a mutual session with an experienced author instead of a group.

All aspects of software systems are suitable topics for submitted patterns or pattern languages. We invite patterns on programming, software design, project management, education, and so on. The actual subjects of patterns need not be original. Rather, preference will be shown to authors best able to exploit patterns in all areas of computing. Have a look at last year's program to get a feeling for the diversity of patterns submitted.

Right Brain Activities

Writing and reviewing patterns are creative tasks that call for all parts of the brain to be employed. Therefore an important part of the program feature right brain activities, such as non-competitive games and an art studio.

Focus Groups

Besides the core program we have additional sessions to present and discuss the current state of work on patterns. 'Focus groups' consist of a number of workshops, organised around a common theme, to be proposed by attendees. A workshop lasts two hours and is intended to be an intensive collaborative sessions where groups of interested people meet to discuss challenging topics in this area. Workshop reports will be published in the final proceedings. By now we have planned two themes. However, submissions for other topics related to patterns are also welcome.

Research and Experience Theme

This focus group's workshops look at the issues of patterns in research. 'Research and experience' can mean a project in industry or academia that uses patterns, is intended to produce patterns, or focuses on research on patterns themselves.

Interdisciplinary Theme

Patterns and similar concepts are used in many disciplines other than software (with the classic example being building architecture). At this year's EuroPLoP we particularly invite proposals for workshops looking to learn from experiences of finding and applying patterns in other disciplines. These workshops could span all areas of creativity, from less obvious areas of computing, to other areas of science and engineering, and beyond. Examples might be artificial intelligence, chemistry, mechanical engineering, music, and film making.

BOF Sessions

'Birds of a Feather' sessions are spontaneous events, organized on site. Every attendant may call for a BOF session. Contents and format of a BOF session is up to the group joining the session. Please contact the conference chairs during the conference (or before hand if you wish) to start a BOF session.

How and Where to Submit Papers to EuroPLoP '98

Pattern Papers

Submissions should be patterns. Authors should submit an electronic copy of their paper in English by March 9^th, 1998. Format should be PDF, HTML or uuencoded postscript (zipped files are welcome), mailed to europlop98@sdm.de. Each paper must be prefaced with ASCII text containing the paper's title, author's names, email address, postal address, phone and fax number, and a 100-word abstract. We recommend submissions not exceed 10 pages.

Workshop Proposals

Workshop proposers should submit a short description of their workshop by February 2^nd, 1998. Format should be plain text and mailed to europlop98@sdm.de. Each proposal should include a brief description of the problem or area that will be addressed, the objectives of the workshop, the format of the workshop (including a rough outline of the schedule) and the requirements for the attendees (e.g. do they need to submit a position paper and what are the deadlines for submission?).

Important Dates

• February 2^nd - Workshop proposals due
• March 2^nd - Notification of acceptance to workshop proposers
• March 9^th - Pattern submissions due
• May 18^th - Notification of acceptance to authors
• June 2nd - Final conference draft due
• June 15^th - Registration due
• July 9-11^th - Conference
• September 21^st - Final papers due

The Shepherding and Reviewing Process

Pattern submissions to EuroPLoP are not just reviewed, instead they are shepherded. What this means is that an experienced and non-anonymous person will help you improve your work prior to EuroPLoP so that it can be accepted for review at the conference. After the shepherding process the program committee decides whether an accepted paper is workshoped in a Writer's Workshop or in a Pattern Writing Workshop.

Workshop submissions are anonymously peer reviewed as for other conferences.

The Publication Process

All patterns accepted for EuroPLoP will appear in the Preliminary Conference Proceedings. These proceedings are an internal paper and are not citable. However, they are available via the World Wide Web.

After the conference, the EuroPLoP '98 Conference Proceedings will be published as a citable publication (We will announce further details later). All pattern papers workshoped in a Writer's Workshop and all workshop reports may be included. Authors of pattern papers should submit an improved version of their paper by September 21^st for inclusion in the technical report.

Note that the proceedings will not be published as a part of the Software Patterns Series as with the PLoPD books. However, being workshoped at a conference such as EuroPLoP is one of the preconditions for publication in the Software Pattern Series. Pattern authors retain full copyright on their patterns.

Conference Location

EuroPLoP will be held at Kloster Irsee, a former Benedictine monastery with an attached brewery in the heart of Bavaria, Germany. Its history can be traced back to the 12^th century, and the buildings we see today were erected in the beginning of the 18th century. The monastery is surrounded by large woods and close to the Alps. Accommodation is available on site.

Irsee is well connected to Munich International Airport by train or bus. Detailed travel information will be published here in the spring of '98.

Chairs

If you have any questions, send an email to europlop98@sdm.de or directly to one of the chairs: