The First International Workshop on Patterns Languages: Addressing Challenges PLAC 2007 Call for Papers Montréal, Canada, October 21, 2007 (in conjunction with OOPSLA 2007) http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007 (OOPSLA 2007 Link) http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007/index.php?page=sub/&id=150 (Workshop Link 1) http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/~fayad/workshops/PLAC07 (Workshop Link 2) http://www.vrlsoft.com/workshops/PLAC07 (Workshop Link 3) INTRODUCTION A pattern language consists of a cascade or hierarchy of parts, linked closely together by patterns, which solve generically recurring problems that are associated with the parts. Each pattern has a title, and collectively the titles form a language for design [1]. Pattern Languages are simply a collection of interrelated patterns [2]. These interrelated patterns are combined in any way and combination to create new environments, where practitioners can solve context-specific problems. Precisely, the concept of pattern languages has invaded over into the software engineering field, to describe prior experiences and the processes that stem from them, in a very simple language, where patterns are tactfully woven as a whole, and can be combined in any manner to solve a particular and complex problem. Yet, this process is still done in an ad-hoc manner and is not straightforward enough, to ease and speed up the software development process. Thus, this workshop is driven forward by three main questions. First, how can we classify, develop, and utilize analysis and design patterns together towards the path of a problem resolution? Second, what is the \u201cbehind-the-\u201c language that guides the sewing of patterns together as a whole? And third, how can we overcome and face challenges, other than patterns composition problems (patterns traceability, etc.) that can hinder the development of a system of patterns? The inherent inability to answer these questions detrimentally impacts the understanding of how to put patterns in real practice, and will therefore make software patterns\u2019 use more complex than it should. OBJECTIVE AND MOTIVATION Building high quality systems is not an easy exercise, specifically when several factors can undermine their quality success, such as cost, time, and lack of systematic approaches. The potential promise of using software patterns in software development to deal with these aforementioned obstacles, has led software practitioners to steadfastly believe in the power of pattern languages, as the means for constructing complex systems in a constrained environment. Software Patterns, along with Pattern Languages, have recently attracted software practitioners for more than a decade. They have seen software patterns and pattern languages as really promising techniques that ease and speed up their software development [2, 3, 4, and 5]. However, developing robust software patterns and pattern languages has not reached the expected ease and flexibility it should have been, when dealing with determined problems; instead, they construct models that specifically lack some essential qualities that diminish the overall quality of the system rather than improving it [6]. The concept of Pattern Languages [3, 7, 8, and 9] is spilling over into the software engineering field, to highlight software development\u2019s prior experiences or best practices, using a coherent language that can be used for both discussing about a particular problem and also in creating new environments from the patterns it conveys. This language works by connecting a collection of patterns, as if they were in a detailed, narrated story. Each of the patterns in the collection is an insightful and a novel way to manage or solve a set of recurrent problems in a particular context [2, 3, and 5]. As a whole, they make clearly visible both the knowledge that is pertinent to a particular domain, and the solutions for a set of recurrent problems. Pattern languages have emerged as a promising classification technique and in providing ways to build frameworks. However, there area number of problems [10], such as: 1. Context\u2019s missing indicators/guidelines for in-context patterns selection within the pattern language. 2. Classifications of patterns\u2019 rationale within the pattern language structure is also missing. 3. Traceability is lost, especially when dealing with deeper levels of pattern language implementation. 4. No systematic way for compositing these patterns, similar or different, to build software architectures 5. There is a loss of generality in traditional pattern languages. 6. Pattern languages struggles and conflicts in providing full software maintainability and stability. 7. How pattern languages deal with the problem they address is neither straightforward nor easy. 8. There is no set classification in pattern languages. 9. Pattern languages don\u2019t distinguish between associate and remote knowledge. WORKSHOP CHALLENGES The workshop will address pattern languages\u2019 challenges and debate several issues related to the following questions. We want researchers, framework developers, and application developers to discuss and debate the following questions related to: I. Pattern Languages Creation and Development a. Leaving career experience claim on the side, can you show how to create and develop pattern languages? b. What are the bases of creating pattern Languages? c. Are there guidelines, methodologies, and/or processes for pattern language creations and developments? d. Would you show an example or two of systematic and non-systematic pattern languages? e. What is the starting point of any pattern language? f. What are the components of any pattern language? g. What kind of patterns that appear in pattern languages? II. Pattern Languages Selection Process: a. How does one select analysis and design patterns to create a pattern language? b. What is the basis for selecting these patterns into the pattern language? c. If someone would like to build a system from patterns, how does he/she select patterns from the pattern language? d. What kind of patterns should one select to build a system from patterns? e. Is there a guideline for the selection process from a pattern language? III. Patterns Languages Composition a. How does one integrate the selected pattern languages to build any given system? Or how does one compose any system from one or more pattern languages? b. What are the various claims related to pattern languages composition? Are they really true? c. Are there any guidelines or techniques for pattern languages composition? Would you illustrate how to use them? IV. System of Patterns and General Reuse a. What do we mean, when we say \u201csystems of patterns\u201d? b. Are the various claims related to building any system from pattern languages reasonable? c. How to develop pattern repositories and catalogs, from which pattern languages can be retrieved and reused? d. Are there any automated approaches for patterns using languages mining and integration? e. What other concepts will help assist build any system from pattern languages? f. Can patterns within a given pattern language appear in other remote pattern languages? g. Is it possible to create many architectures from a given pattern languages? How many architectures? h. Can we measure the ROI from the pattern language of a given domain? i. Is it possible to measure or perform cost estimation using pattern languages? j. It is possible to insert the quality factors with the pattern languages? How? V. Impacts a. What is the impact of software stability on the above mentioned challenges and software quality factors? More information will be available at: http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007 (OOPSLA 2007 Link) http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007/index.php?page=sub/&id=150 (Workshop Link 1) http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/~fayad/workshops/PLAC07 (Workshop Link 2) http://www.vrlsoft.com/workshops/PLAC07 (Workshop Link 3) PAPER FORMAT AND SUBMISSIONS Developers and programmers who are interested in participating in the workshop, are requested to submit a short position paper (3-5 pages), or regular workshop paper (limited to 6-15 pages, double spaced, including figures) representing views and experiences relevant to the given discussion topic. The title page must include a maximum 150-word abstract, five keywords, full mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, fax number, and a designated contact author. Workshop papers will be selected depending on their originality, quality and relevance to the workshop. All submitted papers will also be evaluated according to its originality, significance, correctness, presentation and relevance. Papers should be submitted electronically at: http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007/index.php?page=sub/&id=150. Please follow the instructions given on the web page. Camera Ready manuscripts must be submitted following ACM SIGPLAN conference proceedings style and guidelines. We also encourage authors to present novel and fresh ideas, critiques of existing work, and practical studies. Each accepted workshop paper must be presented in the person, either by the author or one of the co-authors. To foster and promote lively discussions, authors are encouraged to present open questions and one or two main statements for discussion at the workshop. Submissions must be made either in MS-Word or RTF formats (please, DO NOT compress files). Depending on the total number and spread of contributions, the scope may be narrowed down to ensure an effective communication and information sharing session. Accepted position papers will be distributed to the participants, before the workshop and made generally available through the WWW and FTP. Accepted papers will be published in the Workshop Proceedings. At least one of the authors of each accepted paper must register as a full delegate in the workshop. Selected papers will be published in the online Journal of International Journal Of Patterns (IJOP) www.ijop.org. WORKSHOP PARTICIPATION People who are interested in participating in the workshop, without making any submissions are requested to fill out the participation form and e-mail to any of the workshop chairs. ------------------------------------------------- PARTICIPATION FORM: Name and Affiliation: Position: Address: E-mail: URL: Areas of interest: Reasons for Participating? ------------------------------------------------- Please note that registration is mandatory, in order to participate in the workshop. An early registration discount is available for all desired participants. An overhead projector and a flipchart will be available to all participants. For more information please visit any of the following websites: http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007 (OOPSLA 2007 Link) http://www.oopsla.org/oopsla2007/index.php?page=sub/&id=150 (Workshop Link 1) http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/~fayad/workshops/PLAC07 (Workshop Link 2) http://www.vrlsoft.com/workshops/PLAC07 (Workshop Link 3) You may also contact the organizers, either by e mail or by phone. PROPOSED AGENDA 1. Welcome and introduction of participants. The organizers will first provide a short overview of all open issues and also of the main arguments arising out of the position papers. (Estimated time: 20-30 minutes) 2. Selected authors (who\u2019ll be representing the main trends) will be allotted 20 minutes to explain how their position relates to other positions, and what each one of them sees as the three major issues. We expect about 5-10 position papers in this session. (Estimated time: 120-130 minutes) 3. The organizers will propose an identification process of the major issues, and the participants will then discuss, choose and select what they perceive are the hottest issues to be examined. (Estimated time: 10-15 minutes) 4. The participants will work for 70-95 minutes in small groups, with a designated moderator assigned for each group. The groups will individually deal with two different, identified hot issues and will produce a summary note in the form of points and counterpoints, showing either how several views are irreducibly opposed or how they are complementary. The total number of groups will depend mainly on the number of participants and issues selected; ideally there should be 3-5 p people in each group. (Estimated time: 60-70 minutes) 5. Each group will be given 10-15 minutes to present its findings and inferences to the workshop. A closing discussion will soon follow. The workshop report will be composed on the basis of these findings, and will include a clear cut agenda for future exploration and cooperation; this will be made available through the WWW and FTP. (Estimated time: 50-60 minutes for five teams) (Total estimated time: 285-315 minutes, i.e. about five hours +/- 15 minutes; lunch and breaks are not included.) IMPORTANT DATES Submission deadline September 14, 2007 Acceptance notification September 30, 2007 Camera-ready paper due October 10, 2007 Workshop date: October 21, 2007 Conference begins: October 21, 2007 ORGANIZERS DR. M.E. FAYAD (CHAIR) Professor of Computer Engineering Computer Engineering Dept., College of Engineering San José State University One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0180 Ph: (408) 924-7364, Fax: (408) 924-4153 E-mail: m.fayad@sjsu.edu, mefayad@gmail.com URL: http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/fayad DR. CHIA-CHU CHIANG (CO-CHAIR) University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Computer Science, 2801 South University Ave., Little Rock, Arkansas 72204-1099, USA Ph: (501) 569-8142 E-mail: cxchiang@ualr.edu URL: http://pandora.compsci.ualr.edu/cxchiang/index.html HUÁSCAR A. SÁNCHEZ (CO-CHAIR) Independent Consultant 22 Marcin Hill, Burnsville MN 55337 Ph: 952-223-4060 E-Mail: huascar.sanchez@hsanchez.net URL: www.hsanchez.net DR. PABLO CHACIN (CO-CHAIR) Technical University of Catalonya Departamento de Arquitectura de Computadores UPC Campus Nord, C6-002 Jordi Girona 1-3 Barcelona 08034, Spain Ph: +34 93 401 10 55 E-mail: pchacin@ac.upc.edu URL: http://personals.ac.upc.edu/pchacin DR. SRINI RAMASWAMY (CO-CHAIR) Department of Computer Science Dickinson Hall Suite 515 University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204 Ph: (501)-569-8134 Fax: (501)-569-8144 E-mail: sxramaswamy@ualr.edu URL: http://pandora.compsci.ualr.edu/srini/ DR. ARTURO SÁNCHEZ-RUÍZ, (CO-CHAIR) University of North Florida, USA School of Computing University of North Florida 4567 St Johns Bluff Rd. S. Jacksonville, FL 32224-2669 Ph: 904-620-1314 Fax: 904-620-2988 E-mail: asanchez@unf.edu, Arturo@acm.org URL: http://www.unf.edu/~asanchez DR. SELMIN NURCAN (CO-CHAIR) Maître de Conférences Centre de Recherche en Informatique, France Université Paris 1 - Panthéon - Sorbonne Centre de Recherche en Informatique 90, rue de Tolbiac 75634 Paris cedex 13 FRANCE Ph: 33 - 1 44 07 86 34 Fax : 33 - 1 44 07 89 54 E-mail: nurcan@univ-paris1.fr URL: http://crinfo.univ-paris1.fr/users/nurcan DR. A. KANNAMMAL SAMPATHKUMAR (CO-CHAIR) Coimbatore Institute of Technology, TamilNadu, India 34/43, 14th Cross, Thirumagal Nagar, Peelamedu Pudur, Coimbatore 641 004, TN, INDIA. Ph: 00 91 422 2574071 E-mail: kannaphd@yahoo.co.in URL: http://www.citindia.com/Computer_Kannammal.htm PROGRAM COMMITTEE Rami Bahsoon, Aston University in Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom Javier Bilbao, University of the Basque Country, Spain Rafael Capilla, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain Rogerio Atem de Carvalho, Federal Center for Technological Education of Campos, Brazil Pablo Chacin, Technical University of Catalonya, Barcelona, Spain Chia-Chu Chiang, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, USA Bernard Coulette, University of Toulouse II, France Sergiu Dascalu, University of Nevada, Reno, USA Sergio de Cesare, Brunel University, West London, United Kingdom Jurgen Dix, Clausthal University of Technology, Germany M.E. Fayad, San Jose State University & vrlSoft, Inc., Silicon Valley, USA Giancarlo Fortino, University of Calabria, Italy João Miguel Fernandes, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal Maria Joao Ferreira, Universidade Portucalense, PORTO, Portugal Rosario Girardi, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brasil Yann-Gaël Guéhéneuc, Université de Montréal, Canada Pilar Herrero, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain Hoda Hosny, The American University in Cairo, Egypt Lise Hvatum, Schulmberger, Taxes, USA Dong, Jing, University of Texas at Dallas, USA A. Kannammal, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, TamilNadu, India Mohamed-Khireddine Kholladi, University of Constantine, France Dae-Kyoo Kim, Oakland University, USA Jianzhi Li, De Montfort University, United Kingdom Jing Liu, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China Ricardo J. Machado, Universidade do Minho, Guimaraes, Portugal Aime Mokhoo Mbobi, Ecole Supérieure d'Electricité, France Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Utah State University, USA Selmin Nurcan, Université Paris 1, France Flavio Oquendo, University of South Brittany, France Toacy Cavalcante de Oliveira, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Michael Oudshoorn, Montana State University, USA Shushma Patel, London South Bank University, United Kingdom Loris Penserini, ITC-IRST, Automated Reasoning Systems, Italy Agostino Poggi, University of Parma, Italy Srini Ramaswamy, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, USA Philippe Roose, Laboratoire d'Informatique de l'Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, France Ahmed Salem, California State University , Sacramento (CSUS), USA Huascar A. Sanchez, Independent Consultant, Minnesota, USA Arturo Sánchez-Ruíz, University of North Florida, USA Christian Schlegel, University of Applied Sciences Ulm, Germany Alberto Rodrigues da Silva, Technical University of Lisbon,, PORTUGAL Marjan Sirjani, University of Tehran, Iran Yasemin Topaloglu, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey Manolis Tzagarakis, University of Patras Campus, Greece Hironori Washizaki, National Institute of Informatics, Japan Levent Yilmaz, Auburn University, USA Wolfgang Zuser, OBJENTIS Software Integration GmbH, Austria