PLoP 2025: Call for Submissions

The Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP™) conference is the premier event for pattern authors and enthusiasts to gather, discuss, and learn more about patterns, design, software development, and the built world in general. PLoP 2025 welcomes paper authors and nonauthors alike. The conference offers Writers’ Workshops for authors to improve their papers and "Imagination Run Wild" sessions for everyone, including newcomers, to learn about patterns and related topics.

Key Information

• Conference: 32nd Pattern Languages of Programs (PLoP)
• Dates: October 12-15, 2025
• Location: Skamania Lodge, Columbia River Gorge, Washington USA
• Website: https://plopcon.org/plop2025/

Submission Types

There are two main types of submissions:

Papers

• Description: Papers can describe patterns and pattern languages, experience reports, essays, empirical evaluations, reflections, etc. The focus is on improving the written expression of patterns.
• Process:
  1. Initial Submission: Papers are assessed for suitability and quality by the program committee.
  2. Shepherding: Each suitable paper is assigned a shepherd, an experienced writer, who helps the author improve the paper through an iterative process.
  3. Final Assessment: After shepherding, papers are assessed again by the program committee.
  4. Writers’ Workshops: Accepted papers are discussed in writers' workshops at the conference.
  5. Post-Conference Improvement: Authors make final improvements to their papers based on feedback from the workshops for inclusion in the proceedings.
• Feedback: Authors receive guidance from shepherds and feedback from workshop attendees.
• Registration Requirement: At least one author of an accepted paper must register for the conference. Failure to do so will result in acceptance being withdrawn.
• Questions: Contact Hugo Ferreira, the papers program chair, at ploppapers@hillside.net.

Imagination Run Wild (IRW)

• Description: Proposals for various sessions under the umbrella of "Imagination Run Wild." These include hour-long presentations, 5-minute lightning talks, workshops, focus groups, open spaces, fishbowls, and birds-of-a-feather sessions.
• Participation: These sessions offer everyone, including newcomers and non-authors, an opportunity to learn about patterns and related topics.
• Flexibility: The conference organizers are open to receiving a variety of session types and activities. If your proposal doesn't fit a standard format, please contact Kiyoka Hayashi, the "Imagination Run Wild" program chair, at plopirw@hillside.net to discuss it.
• Proceedings: Reports from IRW sessions may be included in the conference proceedings, subject to review.

Important Dates (AoE - Anytime on Earth)

• June 9: Paper submissions (Extended)
• June 15: Notification of acceptance for shepherding.
• July 15: Updated papers due.
• July 15: Imagination Run Wild submissions due.
• July 30: Notification of acceptance sent for all submissions.
• August 10: Early registration ends. All paper authors and Imagination Run Wild facilitators must register by this date.
• September 23: Conference version of paper due.
• January 15 (2026): Proceedings version of paper and Imagination Run Wild reports due.

How to Submit

• Submit your proposals via the online system: https://submission.plopcon.org/plop/2025/submission/gate.cgi

About PLoP and The Hillside Group

• PLoP Conference: Part of a thirty-year history, PLoP conferences gather people who wish to improve the quality of life through designing and using social and technical systems in a more humane way, sharing tacit knowledge through patterns.
• The Hillside Group: The mission of The Hillside Group is to improve the quality of life and society by promoting the use of patterns and pattern languages to record, analyze, and share knowledge, making processes and design more humane.
• Sponsorship: Interested in sponsoring PLoP? Please contact plopsponsorship@hillside.net.

© 2025 The Hillside Group. All rights reserved. PLoP® is a registered trademark of The Hillside Group.