The agent metaphor and the agent-based approach to systems design constitute a promising new paradigm for building complex distributed systems. However, until now, the majority of the agent-based applications available have been built by researchers who specialize in agent-based computing and distributed artificial intelligence. If agent-based computing is to become anything more than a niche technology practiced by the few, then the base of people who can successfully apply the approach needs to be broadened dramatically. A major step in this broadening endeavor is the development of methodologies for agent-oriented software engineering accessible to and attractive for professional software engineers in their daily work. Against this background, this book presents one of the first coherent attempts to develop such a methodology for a broad class of agent-based systems. The author provides a clear introduction to the key issues in the field of agent-oriented software engineering.

This book presents a coherent and well-balanced survey of recent advances in software engineering approaches to the design and analysis of realistic large-scale multi-agent systems (MAS). The chapters included are devoted to various techniques and methods used to cope with the complexity of real-world MAS. The power of agent-based software engineering is illustrated using examples that are representative of successful applications. The 16 thoroughly reviewed and revised full papers are organized in topical sections on agent methodologies and processes, requirements engineering and software architectures, modeling languages, and dependability and coordination. Most of the papers were initially presented at the 3rd International Workshop on Software Engineering for Large-Scale Multi-agent Systems, SELMAS 2004, held in Edinburgh, UK in May 2004 in association with ICSE 2004. Other papers were invited to complete coverage of all relevant aspects.

Autonomous agents and multi-agent systems have grown into a promising technology offering a credible alternative for the design of intelligent and cooperative systems. Recently efforts have been made to provide novel tools, methods, and frameworks to establish the necessary standards for wider use of MAS as a technology of its own and not only as an attractive paradigm. This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the First International Workshop on Programming of the First International Workshop on Programming Multi-Agent Systems, PROMAS 2003, held in Melbourne, Australia in July 2003 as part of AAMAS 2003. Besides 8 workshop papers, the volume contains 3 invited papers to complete coverage of the relevant aspects. The papers are organized in topical sections on programming multi-agent systems, languages for multi-agent systems, and principles and tools for multi-agent systems.

This book constitutes revised selected papers from the 9th International Workshop on Engineering Multi-Agent Systems, EMAS 2021, which was held during May 3-4, 2021. The conference was initially planned to take place in London, UK, but changed to an online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 20 full papers and 1 short paper included in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 27 submissions. The contributions deal with agent-oriented software engineering, programming multi-agent systems, declarative agent languages and technologies, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

This book assesses the state of the art of agent-based approaches as a software engineering paradigm. The 15 revised full papers presented together with an invited article were carefully selected from 43 submissions during two rounds of reviewing and improvement for the 4th International Workshop on Agent-Oriented Software Engineering, AOSE 2003, held in Melbourne, Australia, in July during AAMAS 2003. The papers address all current issues in the field of software agents and multi-agent systems relevant for software engineering; they are organized in topical sections on - modeling agents and multi-agent systems -methodologies and tools - patterns, architectures, and reuse - roles and organizations.

Presents a methodology developed by DaimlerChrysler. Illustrates the methodology through detailed case studies.