Hello, I'm Tom. I'm currently doing a PhD at the Software Architecture Group, Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, Germany around the topic of Structured or Block-based Editing.

Also working with Forever Day One on all things IT.

Contact

Reach me on Github, on Mastodon, or via mail.


2020-today Ph.D. student at the Software Architecture Group, Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam
Advisor: Robert Hirschfeld
2018-today Part-time developer at Forever Day One GmbH
2018-2020 M.Sc. IT-Systems Engineering (Distinction) at Hasso-Plattner-Institut, University of Potsdam
2014-2018 B.Sc. IT-Systems Engineering (Distinction) at Hasso-Plattner-Institut, University of Potsdam
2015-2020 Freelance work in web and app development, including work with agencies and a newspaper
2011-2015 Member of elementary OS open-source development team

Peer Reviewed Publications

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

Technical Reports

Teaching

Co-Supervised Mastertheses

Courses

2025
  • Leveling Up IT Learning Bachelor's Project (2nd term) (supervision)
2024/25
  • Leveling Up IT Learning Bachelor's Project (1st term) (supervision)
  • Software Architecture BA Lecture (introductory lectures)
2024
  • Software Engineering I BA Lecture (lectures on TDD and Debugging)
2023/24
  • Rapid Prototyping in Game Development BA Lecture (concept and lectures)
  • Software Architecture BA Lecture (introductory lectures)
2023
  • Building a Programming System in and for Virtual Reality Master's Project (supervision)
  • Programming Experience MA Project Seminar (topics on structured editing)
  • Tools for Game Development MA Project Seminar (concept and supervision)
  • Ein lebendiges Schaufenster in die Geschichte(n) einer Region Bachelor's Project (2nd term) (supervision)
2022/23
  • Ein lebendiges Schaufenster in die Geschichte(n) einer Region Bachelor's Project (1st term) (supervision)
  • Programming in Virtual Reality MA Project Seminar (concept and supervision)
2022
  • Wenn den Bildern die Worte fehlen: Das bebilderte Gedächtnis einer Stadt im Zusammenspiel mit Zeitzeuginnen und Zeitzeugen erschließen und erfahrbar machen Bachelor's Project (2nd term) (supervision)
2021/22
  • Wenn den Bildern die Worte fehlen: Das bebilderte Gedächtnis einer Stadt im Zusammenspiel mit Zeitzeuginnen und Zeitzeugen erschließen und erfahrbar machen Bachelor's Project (1st term) (supervision)
  • Software Engineering I BA Lecture (lecture on Kanban and CI/CD)
  • Exploring Visual Primitives for Authoring Source Code Master's Project
  • Visual Abstractions for Framework, Tool and Language Design MA Project Seminar (concept and supervision)
2021
  • Live Programming MA Project Seminar (topics on structured editing)
2020/2021
  • Introduction to Programming I BA Lecture (lectures and tutorials, teaching Scheme and C)

Academic Community Participation

2025
  • AOSA 2025 Editor's Choice Award, Journal on The Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming, vol. 10
2024
  • Co-organization of the Workshop on Programming Abstractions and Interactive Notations, Tools, and Environments (PAINT) at SPLASH
  • Member of Onward Essays'2024 Program Committee
  • Co-Organization Retreat of the Systems Cluster of the Hasso Plattner Institute
2023
  • Co-organization of the Workshop on Programming Abstractions and Interactive Notations, Tools, and Environments (PAINT) at SPLASH
2022
  • Student Representative, Faculty Council at the Digital Engineering Faculty, University of Potsdam
  • Co-organization of the Workshop on Programming Abstractions and Interactive Notations, Tools, and Environments (PAINT) at SPLASH
  • Invited Talk, DLS'2022 at SPLASH: "Live Programming over TCP? Bringing Squeak/Smalltalk Liveness to Godot via React/S"
2021
  • Student Volunteer Co-Chair <Programming>'2021
2019
  • Best Paper nominee at the Conference on Games 2019: “Mysterious Murder: MCTS-driven Murder Mystery Generation”

Imprint: Editorially responsible according to §5 TMG in Germany:
Tom Beckmann
c/o Fachgebiet Softwarearchitekturen
Hasso-Plattner-Institut
Prof.-Dr.-Helmert-Str. 2-3
D-14482 Potsdam
Responsible for the content according to § 55 para. 2 RStV in Germany:
Tom Beckmann
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