The EuroPLoP conference accepts papers on patterns, pattern languages, their theory, and their practical application. It focuses on topics related to computing, including software engineering, programming, design, education, organizational, and management topics. EuroPLoP is open for synergies with other fields and therefore accepts up to 20% of pattern papers on non-computing topics.

Submitted papers go through an initial evaluation by the Program Committee (PC) to ensure they are aligned with the topics mentioned above. All suitable papers enter the shepherding phase. In this phase, the authors are assigned a shepherd who will provide feedback in multiple iterations to help improve the quality of the paper. The revised papers are reviewed by the PC members again and a final acceptance decision is made. 

For the final acceptance decision, the following criteria apply: comprehensibility, applicability, novelty of the content, provided evidence (e.g. three known uses, empirical studies), active participation in the shepherding process, relation to existing work, and paper structure. 

All accepted papers are discussed in a writers' workshop during the conference. To have a sufficiently high number of writers’ workshop participants, not more than one paper per conference participant is accepted. Authors are expected to include the feedback from the writers’ workshop in a final revision, which is then published in the conference proceedings.

Authors of papers that were not accepted can still be invited for a special on-site shepherding session to improve their work. These papers will not be part of the proceedings. Also, papers which are not related to a computing topic (which don’t fit any ACM Computing Classification System category) will not be accepted for the ACM proceedings (authors are informed about that during the initial screening phase).

THE HILLSIDE EUROPE MISSION

The aim of Hillside Europe is to help authors learn about patterns and their writing. We do this by providing expert feedback and peer discussions, and we offer a platform for authors to disseminate their work.

We add to the body of knowledge by bringing in new patterns containing expert advice for practitioners and academics, primarily in the field of computing. Apart from computing, Hillside Europe also promotes the use of patterns and pattern languages in other fields. We sponsor a variety of activities to achieve this mission: hosting EuroPLoP and other pattern conferences in Europe, organizing workshops, and producing publications for discussing, recording, and documenting successful practices.