WDES 2014 - 8th Workshop on Distributed Software Development, Software Ecosystems, and Systems-of-Systems

Distributed Software Development (DSD) is an approach of development that aims at using distributed resources to reduce cost and reach new IT markets. The distribution of development teams, along with the inherent difficulties of coordination and communication, often lead to low-productive development processes. In this scenario, inherent problems and challenges of Software Engineering are then amplified and become more critical. To cope with such difficulties, several technological, organizational, and social solutions have been proposed.
In parallel, a new type of software systems has emerged: the Systems-of-Systems (SoS). SoS are large, complex systems whose functionalities are resulted from the integration of different other smaller, independent systems. Characteristics such as operational and managerial independence, geographic distribution of their constituent systems, evolutionary development, and emergent behavior suggest that DSD theories and practices can be applied to the development of SoS.
In another perspective, Software Ecosystem (ECOS) is a set of actors that interact in a distributed market of software and services, whose relationships are often supported by technological platform or shared market. These relationships are done by exchanging information, resources, and artifacts. ECOS has become an important research topic in Software Engineering, since it addresses social and technical issues along with technical aspects of the software development process.
The Workshop on Distributed Software Development (WDDS), in its eighth edition, aims at putting together competencies and technologies of these three related areas: DSD, ECO, and SoS. The extension of its scope resulted in the Workshop on Distributed Software Development, Software Ecosystems, and Systems-of-Systems (WDES). This workshop consists of a forum for presentation and discussion of results and experiences of researchers and practitioners of DSD, ECOS, and SoS. As the main goal, it intends to generate knowledge that makes it possible to conduct successful projects in these three areas.