VISSOFT 2025: Call for Papers

Software visualization is a broad research area aiming to enhance and promote the theory, realization, and evaluation of approaches to visually encode and analyze software systems. VISSOFT 2025 brings together a community of researchers from software engineering, information visualization, human-computer interaction, computer graphics, and data science.

VISSOFT 2025 will take place from September 7-8, 2025, and will be co-located with ICSME.

Topics of Interest

VISSOFT encourages a variety of submissions that address challenges in software systems using visualization. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Visualization of Software Engineering data (source code, dependencies, repositories, developer social networks, mobile app reviews, documentation, runtime logs, DevOps data)
• Visualization of Software development activities (design, requirements engineering, software maintenance, program comprehension, software performance, software testing, debugging)
• Software analytical approaches based on data science concepts
• Empirical evaluations of software visualizations (including eye-tracking studies)
• Tools, techniques, and frameworks including visual programming languages
• Interactive and immersive techniques and algorithms for software development
• Integration of tools with development environments
• Industrial experience with software visualization
• Techniques used in Software Engineering Education
• Application of trendy techniques such as Machine Learning and AI-assisted models (Large Language Models, Large Multi-Modal Models with Software)
• Application of techniques such as Augmented and Virtual Reality, and Sonification, to software engineering activities

Submission Types

Research Track

• Describes in-depth and mature research results.
• Maximum of 10 pages (excluding bibliography, which is limited to two additional pages).
• Submissions may include technique, design study/application, system, evaluation, and model papers.
• User evaluation is highly encouraged.
• Submission of a video (up to 5 minutes) is highly encouraged.
• Artifacts for evaluation are encouraged.
• Important Dates:
  • Paper Abstract: May 16, 2025
  • Paper Submission: May 23, 2025
  • Notification: July 4, 2025
• Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=vissoft2025

New Ideas and Emerging Results (NIER) Track

• Describes work-in-progress and preliminary, exciting ideas and results.
• Maximum of 5 pages (including bibliography).
• Encouraged to include open questions and provocative hypotheses.
• Usually does not require an evaluation.
• Important Dates:
  • Paper Abstract: May 16, 2025
  • Paper Submission: May 23, 2025
  • Notification: July 4, 2025
• Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=vissoft2025

Tools Track

• Describes implemented and functional tools.
• Short papers: 4 pages (1 additional page for bibliography).
• Long papers: 10 pages (2 additional pages for bibliography).
• Focus on tool architecture or use to gain new insights.
• Submission of a video (up to 5 minutes) is mandatory.
• Artifacts (tools, etc.) for evaluation are encouraged.
• Important Dates:
  • Paper Abstract: May 16, 2025
  • Paper Submission: May 23, 2025
  • Notification: July 4, 2025
• Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=vissoft2025

Artifact Evaluation Track

• Encourages submission of artifacts (tools, data repositories, frameworks, videos) for evaluation.
• Papers with evaluated artifacts will receive badges noting contributions to open science.
• More information available at the ICSME Artifact Evaluation Track.

Journal-First Track

• For papers accepted by a relevant journal between July 1, 2023, and July 11, 2025.
• The paper must report new research results or novel contributions not previously reported.
• Requires a one-page presentation proposal.
• Journal-first presentations will not be part of the conference proceedings.
• Important Dates:
  • Paper Submission: July 11, 2025
  • Notification: July 16, 2025
• Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=vissoft2025

Poster Track

• Opportunity to present new and innovative preliminary work in an informal, interactive setting.
• Accepts two-page documents.
• Poster manuscripts will be part of the Conference proceedings.
• Important Dates:
  • Paper Submission: July 11, 2025
  • Notification: July 16, 2025
• Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=vissoft2025

Visualization Challenge Track (NEW!)

• Contribute expertise focused on a single software system: the Linux kernel.
• Authors can use existing datasets or inform PC chairs about new ones.
• Submissions consist of a short abstract, a video (up to 5 minutes), and optionally a link to a tool demo.
• Abstracts evaluated on novelty and interest.
• Accepted papers must submit a 2-4 page description after notification.
• Important Dates:
  • Abstract Submission: June 13, 2025
  • Notification of invitation to submit: June 17, 2025
  • Short Paper Submission: July 11, 2025
  • Feedback from PC Chairs: July 16, 2025
• Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=vissoft2025

How to Submit

• Papers must strictly adhere to the two-column IEEE conference proceedings format. Use the available IEEE Manuscript Templates.
• At least one author of an accepted paper must register and present at the conference.
• Supplemental material (e.g., video, data, software) can be linked in the paper.
• Authors are encouraged to archive artifacts in an open access archive.
• Review Process: VISSOFT uses a single-blind review process.

Important Dates Summary

Track	Paper Abstract	Paper Submission	Paper Notification
Research, NIER, and Tools Track	May 16, 2025	May 23, 2025	July 4, 2025
Journal-First, and Poster Track	--	July 11, 2025	July 16, 2025

| Visualization Challenge Track | June 13, 2025 | | |
| Abstract Submission | | | |
| Notification | | June 17, 2025 | |
| Short Paper Submission | | July 11, 2025 | |
| Feedback from PC Chairs | | | July 16, 2025 |