Software agents are the next logical quantum leap beyond both objects and traditional computer processes. Modular software components are now an accepted approach to building complex systems. Software agents are in effect smart components that enable complex systems to be far more flexible, far more capable, and far more intelligent. Further, a software system based on the concepts of software agency can finally support the concept of emergence and enable the system to respond to events beyond the original intent of the system designers as well as to learn from their environment.
Rather than hand assemble individual components, the designer of an agent-based system focuses on creating an environment in which a dynamic collection of software agents can function autonomously to work on shared goals.
The process is an extremely powerful tool of traditional distributed system design, but simply doesn't have the necessary intellectual power to cope with higher-level system design. An intelligent software agent infrastructure would layer a robust set of capabilities around traditional processes so that software agents are simple, easy, robust, fault-tolerant, and flexible.
Software agents are the best way to attack the design of complex distributed systems.
Please read our Software Agent Manifesto.
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Updated: July 12, 2004 10:22:08 PM -0600
Copyright © 2004 John W. Krupansky d/b/a Base Technology