Call for Papers (CFP) Write & Present at PNSQC
Share Your Experience with the Software Quality Community
For more than 40 years, PNSQC has provided a platform for practitioners and researchers to share real-world experience improving software quality.
Unlike many conferences, PNSQC papers are peer-reviewed and published in our annual proceedings, contributing to the body of knowledge for the software quality profession.
We welcome submissions from:
- practitioners working in industry
- engineering leaders and architects
- researchers and academics
- first-time conference authors
If you have learned something valuable solving a real quality problem in the software engineering domain, the community would benefit from hearing your experience.
Explore the Conference Tracks
PNSQC papers span a range of topics related to software quality engineering, organizational practices, and emerging technologies.
If you are considering submitting a paper, reviewing the conference tracks can help you determine where your topic best fits.
The track descriptions also include example paper topics to help authors frame their ideas.
First-Time Authors Are Welcome
Many PNSQC authors submit their first conference paper here.
Accepted authors are paired with reviewers who provide feedback and guidance throughout the writing process. The goal is not only to produce a strong paper, but also to help authors develop their ideas and communication skills.
Over the years, a number of well-known voices in the software quality community first presented their work at PNSQC before going on to speak at conferences around the world. For many authors, presenting at PNSQC becomes the starting point for a broader speaking and publishing journey.
Each year PNSQC recognizes outstanding contributions with three Best Paper Awards. Award winners are typically invited to return the following year as invited speakers, where they present their work to the conference and receive an honorarium.
To help reduce the barrier to participation, PNSQC also provides a travel stipend to all speakers to help offset the cost of attending the conference.
If you have never published a conference paper before, we encourage you to submit.
Why Authors Choose PNSQC
For more than four decades, PNSQC has been a place where practitioners and researchers have shared meaningful insights on software quality. Authors choose PNSQC because the conference emphasizes thoughtful technical work and real-world experience, not marketing or trend-driven talks.
Several aspects make PNSQC unique:
Published Proceedings
Accepted papers are published in the official PNSQC conference proceedings, contributing to the long-standing body of knowledge in software quality engineering.
Technical Depth
PNSQC is known for presentations that go beyond high-level trends to explore engineering practices, research, and lessons learned from real systems.
Constructive Peer Review
Authors receive feedback from experienced reviewers who help strengthen the clarity, structure, and impact of the paper.
Recognition and Awards
Outstanding papers are recognized each year with Best Paper Awards, highlighting exceptional contributions to the field.
A Community of Practitioners
PNSQC brings together engineers, researchers, leaders, and practitioners who care deeply about advancing software quality.
For many authors, presenting at PNSQC becomes the beginning of ongoing involvement in the conference and the broader software quality community.
If you have an idea, experience, or lesson that could help others improve software quality, we encourage you to submit an abstract and share your insights with the community.
What Makes a Strong PNSQC Paper
PNSQC papers are known for depth, clarity, and practical relevance. Strong submissions typically focus on real problems and the lessons learned from solving them.
Successful papers often include:
- A clearly defined problem or challenge
- Context from a real system or organization
- An approach, method, or experiment used to address the problem
- Data, evidence, or results supporting the conclusions
- Lessons learned from successes or failures
- Practical insights or guidance that others can apply
We encourage papers that go beyond describing tools or industry trends and instead focus on what was learned and why it matters.
Submissions that focus primarily on product promotion or high-level commentary without technical depth are unlikely to be accepted.
Author Guidelines
Everything you need to prepare and submit a PNSQC paper, including abstract requirements, paper structure, templates, and formatting instructions.