COMPSAC 2008 32nd Annual IEEE International Computer Software and Applications Conference Turku, Finland, July 28 - August 1, 2008.

MOTIVATION

Software cybernetics explores the interplay between software/software behavior and control. The fundamental question of interest is: when and, quantitatively speaking, how can software behavior, software processes, or software systems be adapted or evolved to meet old and new objectives in the presence of changes in the environment, such as disturbances, faults, or expanded requirements? This emerging and inter-disciplinary area addresses issues and questions on

• the formalization and quantification of feedback and self-adaptive control mechanisms in software,
• the adaptation of control theory principles to software processes and systems,
• the application of software engineering principles and theories to control systems, and
• the integration of the theories of software engineering and control engineering.

This workshop will serve as a platform for interaction among like-minded researchers and practitioners to

• define/understand the emerging themes and directions of software cybernetics,
• set forth the fundamental principles of control and software engineering on which software cybernetics must build,
• articulate the on-going work in the area of software cybernetics, and
• chart out an agenda for future theoretical and experimental research in this area.

Technical Co-Sponsor: