Multi-Agent Systems are a promising technology to develop the next generation open distributed complex software systems. The main focus of the research community has been on the development of concepts (concerning both mental and social attitudes), architectures, techniques, and general approaches to the analysis and specification of multi-agent systems. This contribution has been fragmented, without any clear way of “putting it all together”, rendering it inaccessible to students and young researchers, non-experts, and practitioners. Successful multi-agent systems development is guaranteed only if we can bridge the gap from analysis and design to effective implementation.
Multi-Agent Programming: Languages, Tools and Applications presents a number of mature and influential multi-agent programming languages, platforms, development tools and methodologies, and realistic applications, summarizing the state of the art in an accessible manner for professionals and computer science students at all levels.
Table of Content
I Languages.- Executing Logical Agent Specifications.- Indi Golog: A High-Level Programming Language for Embedded Reasoning Agents.- Brahms An Agent-Oriented Language for Work Practice Simulation and Multi-Agent Systems Development.- Programming Rational Agents in GOAL.- Merging Agents and Services #x2014; the JIAC Agent Platform.- Towards Pervasive Intelligence: Reflections on the Evolution of the Agent Factory Framework.- II Tools.- Debugging and Testing of Multi-Agent Systems using Design Artefacts.- Environment Programming in CArt Ag O.- A Survey of Agent-oriented Development Tools.- III Applications.- A Multi-Agent Environment for Negotiation.