APSEC 2024
Tue 3 - Fri 6 December 2024 China

Here are the APSEC 2024 tutorials and a brief description of each:


Distributed Systems – What Every Software Engineer Should Know

Speaker: Prof. Ian Gorton (Northeastern University, mail, website)

Abstract: Modern software systems in every application domain are increasingly built as distributed systems. Business applications are structured as cooperating microservices, IoT devices communicate with cloud-based services over a network, and Web sites store data in globally dispersed data centers to support fast access for localitiesin which their users reside. Behind all these systems lurk distributed computing infrastructures that software architects and engineers must exploit to satisfy application service level agreements. To be successful, it is essential that engineers understand the inherent complexity of distributed systems.

In this half day tutorial, I’ll guide the attendees through the fundamental characteristics that distributed systems exhibit. Each characteristic will be related to the software architecture quality attributes that they directly impact. The topics covered include communications reliability and latencies, message delivery semantics, state management, idempotence, data safety, consistency, time, distributed consensus, cascading failures and failover and recovery. I’ll introduce each concept using an example distributed system and use multiple ‘props’ to illustrate concepts. Once I’ve explained a concept using the example, I’ll move on to show how the concept manifests itself in a software system and its effects on quality attributes requirements and inherent trade-offs.

The tutorial will be suitable for graduate students, engineers and architects who have no or minimal exposure to distributed systems concepts. The presentation format will be suitable for a mix of both in person and remote participants. It will combine interactive sessions with short technical explanations and examples to illustrate each distributed systems concept. Slides will be presented in English and versions in Korean potentially other Asian languages will be made available for attendees.

Date & Time: To be determined


Open Source Digital Ecology: A New Paradigm for Data-Driven Research on Developer Behavior Science

Speakers: Prof. Wei Wang (East China Normal University, mail, website), Dr. Fanyu Han (East China Normal University, mail))

Abstract: This tutorial will explore the cutting-edge field of open source digital ecology, with a particular focus on the new paradigm of data-driven research in developer behavior science. As open source projects rapidly expand globally, understanding and analyzing developer behavior is crucial for fostering the sustainable development of open source communities. This tutorial aims to reveal patterns and trends in developer behavior through data science methods and discuss how these insights can be leveraged to optimize project management and community building. We will incorporate real-world case studies to demonstrate how valuable information can be extracted from large-scale open source data and applied to engineering practices, helping participants grasp the core concepts and techniques of this emerging field.

Date & Time: To be determined


Software Supply Chain: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities

Speakers: Prof. Xiang Gao (Beihang University, mail, website), Prof. Ying Wang (Northeastern University, mail, website))

Abstract: Open-source software supply chains have become a corner-stone of the modern software industry, attracting significant attention from enterprises, researchers, and policymakers alike. As organizations increasingly depend on third-party components, the software supply chain faces numerous challenges in areas such as software management, maintenance, and security. This tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the issues, challenges, and opportunities of software supply chain by offering a three-part exploration: (1) an in-depth literature review on current research and trends in software supply chains, (2) a focused discussion on the critical aspects of software supply chain security, and (3) an examination of the evolving landscape of software supply chains in the era of Large Language Models (LLMs). By reflecting on the insights gleaned from current studies and practical experiences, the tutorial will offer valuable recommendations for future research and development in the field of software supply chain management.

Date & Time: To be determined


An Introduction to Quantum Software Engineering

Speakers: Prof. Jianjun Zhao (Kyushu University Japan, mail, website)

Abstract: Quantum computing has emerged as a disruptive technology with the potential to revolutionize various industries. However, developing software for quantum computers requires a paradigm shift in traditional software engineering approaches. This tutorial addresses the challenges in quantum software engineering and explores state-of-the-art methods and techniques. Participants will gain insights into developing reliable and robust quantum software systems, taking into account the unique characteristics of quantum systems. The tutorial fosters collaboration between researchers and practitioners, providing a platform to exchange ideas, tools, and experiences in quantum software engineering.

Date & Time: To be determined

Call for Tutorials

The APSEC 2024 Tutorials track aims to provide participants with the opportunity to gain new insights, knowledge, and technical skills in a broad range of areas of software engineering.

We welcome proposals for tutorials on any topic related to software engineering. A tutorial may describe a software engineering activity (for example, the state-of-the-art in program analysis or automated test data generation), or it may describe a method or a technique that can be used in software engineering research and/or practice (for example, Natural Language Processing, grounded theory, or causal inference).

Tutorials at APSEC are intended to provide independent instruction on topics that are relevant to software engineering practitioners and researchers. Therefore, no commercial or sales-oriented presentations will be accepted.

Potential tutorial presenters should note that the audience can have varying levels of expertise, ranging from novice graduate students to seasoned practitioners and researchers. A proposal should clearly indicate whether the proposed tutorial is prepared for the wide range of audiences, or for a specific subgroup within the community. Also, bear in mind that not everyone will have English as their first language. We strongly recommend that presenters should provide comprehensive notes written in clear, standard English: idioms, irony, slang, and culture-specific references should be avoided.

The tutorials will be held on December 3. Each tutorial is minimum 120 minutes, maximum 240 minutes (with a break).

Tutorial Proposal Guidelines

Proposal submissions should follow this structure:

  • Title of the tutorial
  • Name, affiliation, and email address of the presenter(s)
  • Abstract (max 300 words), suitable for posting on the conference website
  • Tutorial aims and objectives
  • Intended audience and required background
  • Relevance: please justify why this tutorial would be of interest to a broad section of the software engineering community
  • Outline of the topics covered by the tutorial, with approximate timing
  • Presenter’s bio: 250-word bio of the presenter(s), stressing their qualification with respect to the tutorial topic
  • Tutorial history: list of previous editions of the tutorial (if any), including the dates, the venue, and the number of attendees.
  • Audio-visual and technical requirements
  • The proposal (excluding the sample slides) should be no longer than three (3) pages and must conform to the official IEEE Manuscript Template. LaTeX users must use \documentclass[9pt,technote]{IEEEtran}.

How to Submit

The proposal, as well as the sample slides, should be submitted via email to the Tutorial Co-Chairs.

Evaluation

The Tutorial committee will review each proposal and will select quality proposals that fit the evaluation criteria. Each proposal will be evaluated on its anticipated benefit for prospective participants and its fit within the program as a whole. Factors to be considered include: relevance, timeliness, importance, audience appeal; suitability for presentation in a 180-minute format; effectiveness of teaching methods; past experience, and qualifications of the instructors.

Important Dates

  • Submission deadline: Aug 23, 2024 Aug 30, 2024
  • Notification: Sep 25, 2024

If you have any questions, please contact the Tutorials Chair: