FORTE 2024: Advancing Formal Techniques for Distributed Systems

The 44th International Conference on Formal Techniques for Distributed Objects, Components, and Systems (FORTE 2024) stands as a premier event within DisCoTec 2024, the 19th International Federated Conference on Distributed Computing Techniques. FORTE 2024 serves as a vital platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research dedicated to the theoretical foundations, models, tools, and practical applications of distributed systems.

Exploring the Frontiers of Distributed Systems at FORTE 2024

FORTE 2024 is specifically designed as a forum to foster advancements in the fundamental understanding of distributed software systems. The conference strongly encourages submissions that introduce novel approaches and tools for the formal modeling, robust implementation, and rigorous validation of increasingly critical and complex systems and applications. As our reliance on these sophisticated software systems deepens, FORTE 2024 recognizes the growing responsibility of researchers to deliver solutions that are not only trustworthy but also readily usable in real-world scenarios.

The scope of FORTE 2024 encompasses a broad spectrum of topics, inviting contributions that address key challenges and innovations in the field:

Language Concepts for Concurrency and Distribution: Exploration of innovative language concepts that underpin concurrency and distribution, emphasizing rigorous semantics, practical applicability, and compelling use-case illustrations.
Analysis and Validation Techniques: Advancements in analysis techniques, methodologies, and algorithms, employing testing and verification to ensure the soundness of diverse concurrent and distributed systems. This includes areas such as communication and network protocols, service-oriented architectures, adaptive distributed systems, and cyber-physical systems, including sensor networks.
Security Principles for Distributed Systems: Focus on the principles that enable qualitative and quantitative security analysis of distributed systems, addressing the ever-important aspects of system integrity and resilience.
Real-World Applications of Formal Methods: Practical applications of formal methods and techniques aimed at enhancing the quality, reliability, availability, and safety of tangible distributed systems. FORTE 2024 places particular emphasis on “real-life” case studies and industrial applications that demonstrate the impact of formal methods in real distributed environments.
Emerging Trends in Distributed Systems: Addressing the latest challenges and emerging hot topics within the expansive domain of distributed systems. This includes areas like software-defined networks, distributed ledger technologies, smart contracts, and blockchain innovations, reflecting the rapidly evolving landscape of distributed computing.

Call for Submissions: Share Your Research at FORTE 2024

FORTE 2024 extends a warm invitation to researchers and practitioners to contribute their original work. Submissions are encouraged across three distinct categories, each designed to accommodate different types of contributions and research stages.

Important Dates for Paper Submissions (Anywhere on Earth – AoE)

Mark your calendars with these key deadlines for paper submissions:

Abstract Submission Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Extended)
Paper Submission Deadline: February 23, 2024 (Extended)
Paper Notification: April 5, 2024 (Extended)
Camera-Ready Submission: April 24, 2024

Important Dates for Artefact Submissions (Anywhere on Earth – AoE)

For those submitting accompanying artefacts, please note these dates:

Artefact Submission Deadline: March 8, 2024 (Extended)
Kick-the-Tires Phase (Reviewer Feedback): March 15, 2024 (Extended)
Authors’ Response to Reviewers: March 22, 2024 (Extended)
Artefact Notification: April 5, 2024 (Extended)

The DisCoTec conference, encompassing FORTE 2024, will be held from June 17-21, 2024.

Submission Guidelines: Ensuring Quality and Clarity

All submissions to FORTE 2024 must adhere to specific guidelines to ensure a consistent and high-quality review process. Contributions must be written in English and formatted as PDF documents using Springer’s LNCS style. Submissions that do not comply with the category-specific constraints may be rejected without undergoing review. It is essential to note that, except for journal-first papers, all submissions should present original, unpublished work that is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, upholding the principles outlined in the IFIP codes of conduct.

Paper Categories: Tailoring Your Contribution

FORTE 2024 welcomes submissions in the following categories, each designed to highlight different aspects of research and development:

Regular Papers (7-15 pages): Ideal for presenting comprehensive research findings and in-depth experience reports. Regular paper submissions can be enhanced with companion artefact submissions, which will be evaluated separately by the Artefact Evaluation Committee. Acceptance of the paper is independent of artefact acceptance, but artefact acceptance is contingent on the paper’s acceptance.
Tool Papers (7-15 pages): Focused on describing technological artefacts relevant to FORTE’s research topics. Tool papers should detail the underlying theory, functionality, limitations, and include rigorous experimental evaluations through case studies. Submission of the tool artefact is mandatory for tool paper acceptance, and the artefact will undergo evaluation by a dedicated committee. A publicly accessible MPEG-4 demo video (maximum 10 minutes) showcasing the tool must be submitted a week after the paper submission deadline.
Short Papers (up to 6 pages): Designed for presenting innovative and promising early-stage ideas, demonstrating new tools or components, or offering insightful reflections on current and future research directions within FORTE’s scope. Short papers can also summarize published journal papers to enrich the conference program.

Artefact Submission and Evaluation: Enhancing Reproducibility

FORTE 2024 incorporates an artefact evaluation process managed by the Artefact Evaluation Committee (AEC) to promote reproducibility and practical validation of research. Detailed information regarding artefact submission and evaluation can be found on the dedicated page.

Publication and Recognition: Showcasing Your Work

Accepted submissions across all categories will be published by Springer as volume 14678 of LNCS-IFIP, ensuring broad visibility and recognition within the scientific community.

Journal Special Issues: Expanding the Reach of FORTE Research

Selected outstanding papers from FORTE and the COORDINATION program will be invited to contribute to a journal special issue of Logical Methods in Computer Science. The tentative timeline includes a submission deadline in October/November 2024 and notification for the first review round in February 2025.

Furthermore, selected tool papers will be considered for a journal special issue in Science of Computer Programming’s Software Track, providing further avenues for dissemination and impact.

Submit Your Paper Through EasyChair

Prospective authors can submit their papers through the EasyChair platform: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=forte2024.

Contact and Further Information

For any additional inquiries or information, please reach out to the Program Committee Co-chairs at forte2024 at easychair dot org.