This page lists some of the Special Sessions that are scheduled to occur at PLoP 98.
Contact Person: Thomas J. Mowbray, PhD Computer Science, Chief Scientist of Blueprint Technologies Inc. (www.blueprint-technologies.com), Co-Author of the book "AntiPatterns: Refactoring Software, Architectures, and Projects in Crisis", the book "CORBA Design Patterns", and the AntiPatterns Columnist for Distributed Computing Magazine. Email: mowbray@www.serve.com
Description: AntiPatterns are a popular discussion topic on Internet patterns forums and the subject of a controversial new book: "ANTIPATTERNS: Refactoring Software, Architectures, and Projects in Crisis." AntiPatterns are a new field of design patterns research focused on recurring solutions that lead to overwhelmingly negative consequences, as well as, refactoring solutions for resolving these AntiPatterns. Common examples include: Spaghetti Code, Stovepipe Systems, and Analysis Paralysis. This workshop is soliciting new AntiPatterns for review at PLoP98. The workshop will allocate time for review of submitted AntiPatterns, and plan follow-on review activities. In addition, we will discuss experiences with the published AntiPatterns and participants' AntiPatterns practices. Brief tutorials on selected AntiPatterns will be presented by the authors of the book. AntiPattern Workshop Participants and Submitters: All PLoP98 participants are welcome to join the AntiPatterns workshop discussion. Please RSVP to mowbray@www.serve.com by August 1, 1998. Submitters: Please submit draft AntiPatterns to mowbray@www.serve.com by July 27, 1998 and bring 30 hardcopies to the workshop. Suggestion: Use the the AntiPattern template or mini-template from the book. We will post these submitted and revised AntiPatterns on www.antipatterns.com for review. Additional reference materials are also located on the site: http://www.antipatterns.com.
Contact Person: Mike Beedle
Description: If you are an org patterns writer, user or have a special interest in this topic, come and join us to find out how you can contribute to write the Common Pattern Language for organizational patterns.
Organizational patterns are a rapidly growing as a powerful paradigm in organizational architecture. In our current historical context, where Knowledge Management and Complexity are the dominant business management trends, organizational patterns play a central role.
However, the body of organizational patterns produced by the patterns community is growing haphazardly. New submissions are presented every year in patterns conferences worldwide, but there is little effort to ensure that these new patterns "fit the big picture" of a CPL (Common Pattern Language). Without some control over these submissions, org patterns will become a large body of disorganized knowledge that will be increasingly difficult to use and comprehend.
Description:
There are many ways to look at patterns. An especially useful way to think of patterns is as a tool for teaching. We don't use patterns blindly; we learn them. Patterns are all about learning structures with good qualities and understanding when and how to generate them.
At ChiliPLoP'98, a small group of university computer science faculty gathered to consider patterns and pattern languages of program design at the level of novices first learning to program. We hope that this workshop serves as the beginning of a long-term project.
Some of the questions that might be discussed at this BOF session include: What role might a pattern language of program design play in the first two years of CS instruction? In what ways would having a viable pattern language change how we do CS instruction? What changes and additions to the traditional pattern language form, if any, would need to be made in order to prepare a pattern language for use by instructors and students?
Of course, the BOF will develop according to the interests and backgrounds of those who come to discuss, so it may go off in any number of directions!
For further information on the ChiliPLoP workshop mentioned above and on other work in this area, please visit the Elementary Patterns web site.
Organizers: Jens Coldewey (jens_coldewey@acm.org) and Wolfgang Keller (100655.566@compuserve.com).
Description: Format plays an important role in the pattern literature. Pattern Languages exist on how to structure a pattern and every Writer's Workshop Session spends a significant share of time on the format. However, there has never been a direct comparison between two different formats. Is an explicit structure better or a flowing text? Which way is more fun to read, which is easier to understand, which is more suitable to find the information you are interested in?
In this BOF session we'd like to compare two different formats for the same pattern (Wolfgang Keller: "Two Layer Persistency Subsystem", workshopped at EuroPLoP98).
In the beginning the participants will be asked to read the three page pattern in one of the two formats available. Both papers contain the same information, they only use different structures. The next step is a Writer's Workshop on both formats simultanously. The workshops may concentrate on the questions above but may also address other issues the participants would like to jump on. Finally we're sliding into an open discussion on pattern format. Everybody who is interested in the topic is welcome to join!