PLoP Papers

Call for PLoP 2022 Papers

The Pattern Languages of Programs conference is the premier event for pattern authors and enthusiasts to gather, discuss, and learn more about patterns, programming, and software development. The conference committee is currently working hard on the planning to ensure that PLoP remains a collaborative and engaging event with strong traditions. Running our Writer’s Workshops in an online setting creates new opportunities for the global patterns community to participate, and is enabling new elements in our program. We are looking forward to receiving your submissions and meeting you virtually!

Important Dates:

• Paper submissions due: August 1st, 2022
• Notification of acceptance for shepherding: August 8th, 2022
• Shepherding should finish by: September 15th, 2022
• Notification of acceptance: September 30th, 2022
• Conference versions due: October 7th, 2022
• Track writers workshop sessions: October 18th-23rd, 2022
• Proceedings version due: December 9th, 2022

About PLoP

Software developers and researchers have long observed that certain themes recur and endure across different applications and different domains. In 1993 this emerging interest in software patterns and pattern languages resulted in an effort to document and communicate these themes and to provide handbooks of proven solutions to common problems. Thus, the PLoP (Pattern Languages of Programs) conference came into existence – a conference that is now entering its 29th year with PLoP 2022.

PLoP brings together practitioners and researchers whose interests span a broad range of topics who share an interest in exploring the power of the pattern form. While we began with only considering patterns of software, the conference has grown beyond its roots to include many other areas of pattern applicability, both inside and outside of software development. PLoP invites you to add your expertise to the growing body of patterns. At PLoP, we focus on improving the written expression of patterns through writers’ workshops. You will have opportunities to refine and extend your patterns with the assistance of knowledgeable and sympathetic patterns enthusiasts and to work with others to develop pattern languages. And this year, we will be conducting our workshops and writers’ activities online. The new virtual format is designed to engage patterns enthusiasts—both newcomers and patterns experts alike—in collaborative writing critiques, discussions, online activities, and more.

Submissions

Paper submissions may include papers containing one or more patterns, pattern languages or sequences, or works in progress by writers wishing to get in-depth shepherding by an experienced author at the conference. Patterns and pattern languages on other topics, essays on patterns, and visions for the future are encouraged.

To enable the paper content to fully benefit from the shepherding process and the writer's workshop discussions, we are limiting the size of the papers to a maximum of 15 pages (font no smaller than 11pt). For larger pattern collections or pattern languages, we suggest the authors considering to reduce the scope of the paper, leaving some of the patterns to another submission. In some special cases, larger papers could be accepted, but the authors should justify they think it is the case when submitting the paper.

→ PLoP Spotlight Topic Groups (Papers)

In the past, one of the most rewarding parts of PLoP has been in fostering cooperation among domain experts who have an interest in collaborating. Over time, we found the strongest pattern languages created during these collaborations resulted in some solid examples such as programming framework patterns (Java Spring), integration patterns (Enterprise Integration Patterns), pedagogical patterns, and organizational change patterns (Fearless Change), and web services patterns.

This year we are specifically looking for people who want to collaborate in the following Spotlight Topics. Please submit to only one of the following six groups (and note this in your comments to the committee):

• Education: Education, training, and online learning.
• Teams: Virtual teams, remote communication, and collaboration.
• Modeling and Design: Domain modeling, EventStorming, Sociotechnical design.
• Software and systems: Progressive web apps, event-sourced architectures, micro-services, security, and IoT.
• Other: if your paper doesn’t fit in any of the above, you are welcome to submit it to this group.

If you submit a paper and it is accepted, you agree to read and comment on all the papers in that group prior to the conference, thus making it possible to substantially improve the papers during the conference.

Submission Process

The core of PLoP is the Writers' Workshop, 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 its authors to refine the paper prior to the conference. All submissions are peer-reviewed after shepherding.

Following shepherding, papers may be accepted directly into a Writers' Workshop or alternatively, into a Writing Group. Writing Group papers will receive additional shepherding but will not be included in the conference proceedings. We strongly encourage these authors to submit this more mature version of their paper to a future PLoP conference.

The PLoP proceedings are published after the conference through the ACM Digital Library. It is expected that papers submitted to PLoP will be revised after receiving feedback. Papers discussed at a Writers' Workshop at PLoP qualify for submission to the journal Transactions on Pattern Languages of Programming published by Springer.

There is a three-stage submission process for the conference:

• Initial submissions are assessed for suitability. Papers judged suitable are assigned a shepherd who will help their authors improve the paper. Initial submissions are assessed for suitability. Papers judged suitable are assigned a shepherd who will help their authors improve the paper.
• Authors are expected to submit a second draft partway through the shepherding process. After shepherding, each paper will be assessed for quality, completeness, and its authors' willingness to accept feedback. This review will determine whether a paper is accepted to the conference for further review either within a Writer’s Workshop or a Writing Group.
• Authors with help of their shepherds are expected to continue revising their paper until the final drafts are due. To submit your paper, please visit the PLoP submission page.

To submit your paper, please visit http://www.hillside.net/plop/2022/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. It is strongly advised that initial submissions follow this format, but it is only for the last version that is mandatory to follow the templates to be published in 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 is expected to register for the conference. Failure to do so may result in acceptance being withdrawn.

I am looking forward to reading your submissions, learning about the patterns that you have observed, and meeting you virtually online. Welcome to PLoP 2022!

On behalf of PLoP 2022 organizing team,

Eduardo Guerra and Mary Lynn Manns
Program Chairs