The tropos software development methodology: processes, models and diagrams

ABSTRACT

Tropos is a novel agent-oriented software development methodology founded on two key features: (i) the notions of agent, goal, plan and other knowledge level concepts are used uniformly throughout the software development process; and (ii) a crucial role is assigned to requirements analysis and specification when the system-to-be is analyzed with respect to its intended environment. This short paper outlines basic elements of the Tropos methodology: the conceptual framework and the analysis process through which design flows from external to system actors through a goal analysis and delegation.

REFERENCES

• 1: B. Bauer, J. P. Müller, and J. Odell. Agent UML: A formalism for specifying multiagent software systems. Int. Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering, 11(3):207--230, 2001.
• 2: S. A. Deloach. Analysis and Design using MaSE and agentTool. In 12th Midwest Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science Conference (MAICS 2001), Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, March 31 - April 1, 2001.
• 3: F. Giunchiglia, J. Mylopoulos, and A. Perini. The tropos software development methodology: Processes, models and diagrams. Technical Report 0111-20, ITC-irst, Dec. 2001.
• 4: A. Newell. The Knowledge Level. Artificial Intelligence, 18:87--127, 1982.
• 5: H. Nwana. Software agents: An overview. Knowledge Engineering Review Journal, 11(3), November 1996.
• 6: Paolo Bresciani , Anna Perini , Paolo Giorgini , Fausto Giunchiglia , John Mylopoulos, A knowledge level software engineering methodology for agent oriented programming, Proceedings of the fifth international conference on Autonomous agents, p.648-655, May 2001, Montreal, Quebec, Canada [doi>10.1145/375735.376477]
• 7: F. Sannicoló, A. Perini, and F. Giunchiglia. The Tropos modeling language. a User Guide. Technical report, ITC-irst, Dec. 2001.
• 8: Michael Wooldridge , Nicholas R. Jennings , David Kinny, The Gaia Methodology for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design, Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, v.3 n.3, p.285-312, September 2000 [doi>10.1023/A:1010071910869 ]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.1 Requirements/Specifications

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications
          Subjects: Multiparadigm languages

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
        I.2.11 Distributed Artificial Intelligence
            Subjects: Multiagent systems

General Terms:
Design

Keywords:
agent-oriented software engineering