Tools papers should describe software systems that implement analysis and testing techniques, and that are of interest to the ISSTA community. Papers should describe the implemented system and its novel features (which may include such aspects as architectural and other design choices). Sufficient motivation for creating the tool should be provided, along with appropriate references to foundational or related work. Discussion of lessons learned or initial data on the potential utility or feasibility of using the system would also be helpful. Of particular value are descriptions of tools or systems that are or will soon be available to other researchers to utilize in further research or empirical study.
(Note: technical papers may also describe software tools, but such papers are expected to present systems in the context of novel research methodologies and include validation. Tools papers, in contrast, may describe systems implementing methodologies previously presented, and need not themselves include rigorous validation.)
Authors of tools papers will be expected to present their work at ISSTA in short (15 minute) presentations during regular conference sessions. These presentations may include demonstrations, or, for those authors who wish it, additional alternative time for formal demonstrations can be provided.
Tools papers will be collected, together with technical papers, into a single archival, refereed conference proceedings published by ACM, whose literature is cited and read by researchers and practitioners worldwide. All submissions must be in English.
Tool papers will be evaluated by the ISSTA Program Committee on the basis of interest, soundness, quality of presentation, and appropriate comparison to related work. Because there is no revision cycle, the content and presentation of submitted papers must be essentially acceptable as received.
Tool papers submitted for consideration should not have been published elsewhere and should not be under review or submitted for review elsewhere during the duration of consideration. Papers violating this restriction will be rejected.
Tool papers may not present commercial products. However, a system that is destined to be a commercial product but that will not be available for sale for at least six months may qualify as a topic of a tools paper. Tool paper presentations are not intended, however, to be sales pitches. For further clarification, please contact the ISSTA Program Chair.
Tool papers must be submitted in PDF format via a paper submission site located at http://continue.cs.brown.edu/servlets/issta04/submit.ss . The deadline for submitting technical papers is January 16, 2004.
We are not requiring separate submission of abstracts ahead-of-time, but when you submit your paper, the submission software will ask you to also supply your abstract in text form in a special field.
Submitted and accepted (camera-ready) papers must be prepared in ACM conference format, and they must not exceed 4 pages in camera-ready form, including figures and references. (A note to Latex users: submissions must use the Option 2 Latex templates available on the ACM page, which produce a tighter version of the SIGs style.)
NOTE: We've learned that the ACM site whose link appears just above contains an error that, on some browsers, makes it impossible to download format-related files. Thus, we provide a link here to local copies of the ACM conference format files relevant to ISSTA 2004 submissions.
Papers that do not conform to these instructions may be returned without review.