Automation plays an important role in software engineering. ne transition from research breakthroughs to usable tools is neither linear nor easy, and requires a fortunate combination of many elements difficult to identify and merge. In this hard transition process, research prototypes are an important step. They allow researchers to early experience ideas and results on real case studies, and to learn both difficulties in applying new theoretical results and limitations of the theory; and enable practitioners, who can see beyond the frontiers of current state of practice, to identify new technology for improving the software development process and spot advances applicable in the near future.