Agent-oriented software engineering: Difference between revisions

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On the one hand, the field of [[Product Family Engineering|Software Product Line]]s (SPL) covers all the [[software]] development lifecycle necessary to develop a family of products where the derivation of concrete products is made systematically and rapidly. On the other hand, Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) is a new software engineering [[paradigm]] that arose to apply best practice in the development of complex Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) by focusing on the use of agents, and organizations (communities) of agents as the main abstractions.

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==Commentary==

On the one hand, the field of [[Product Family Engineering|Software Product Line]]s

Following a rather false start, agent technology has begun to come into its own. With the advent of biologically-inspired, pervasive, and [[autonomic]] computing, the advantages of, and necessity of, agent-based technologies and MASs has become obvious{{fact|date=December 2008}}. Unfortunately, current AOSE methodologies are dedicated to developing single MASs. Clearly, many MASs will make use of significantly the

(SPL) covers all the [[software]] development lifecycle necessary to develop

same techniques, adaptations, and approaches. The field is thus ripe for exploiting the benefits of SPL: reduced costs, improved time-to-market, etc. and enhancing agent technology in such a way that it is more industrially applicable.

a family of products where the derivation of concrete products

is made systematically and rapidly. On the other

hand, Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) is a

new software engineering paradigm that arose to apply best

practice in the development of complex Multi-Agent Systems

(MAS) by focusing on the use of agents, and organizations

(communities) of agents as the main abstractions.

Multiagent Systems Product Lines (MAS-PL) is a research field devoted to combining the two approaches: applying the SPL philosophy for building a MAS. This will afford all of the advantages of SPLs and make MAS development more practical.

Following a rather false start, agent technology has begun

to come into its own. With the advent of biologically-inspired,

pervasive, and autonomic computing, the advantages

of, and necessity of, agent-based technologies and

MASs has become obvious. Unfortunately, current AOSE

methodologies are dedicated to developing single MASs.

Clearly, many MASs will make use of significantly the

same techniques, adaptations, and approaches. The field is

thus ripe for exploiting the benefits of SPL: reduced costs,

improved time-to-market, etc. and enhancing agent technology in such

a way that it is more industrially applicable.

Multiagent Systems Product Lines (MAS-PL) is a research field devoted to combining the two approaches: applying the SPL philosophy

for building a MAS. This will afford all of the advantages of

SPLs and make MAS development more practical.

== References ==

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* Site of the MaCMAS methodology which is applying MAS-PL. http://www.macmas.org

* MAS Product Lines site: http://www.mas-productlines.org