Research On Agent-Oriented Software Metrics

In this paper, the software metrics , Agent and Agent technology and Agent-Oriented software metrics are studied, a suite of metrics suitable for Agent-Oriented software and a MA (Metric Agent) are presented.As an important embranchment of software engineering, the aim of software metrics is to control and assure software quality and to improve the efficiency of software development.Recently, software metrics about Agent-Oriented software is urgently needed because of rapid development in Agent-Oriented technology, along with the development of computer network and network-based distributed computing technology. After thoroughly analyzing the current suite of software metrics about Agent-Oriented software, some new metric concepts and theory have been proposed in our research. The suite of metrics includes: Quantity of Knowledge (QOK), Learning Capability (LC), Responsive Time (RT), Total Number of Agent (TNOA), Number of Interaction (NOI), Total Number of Agent (TNOA), Depending Degree (DGD), Depended Degree (ODD), Social Rationality (SR) and Intelligence Quotient of Agent (IQOA ) .On the basis of above research, we have developed a measure tool model: MA. By communicating with the other Agent, MA abtains the data of the number, state and cooperation of the Agent applicaton, and analyzes, computes the data. Then the values of the metrics are achieved. The values of the metrics not only can evaluate the quality of the metriced Agent-oriented software, but also can guide the development of the Agent-oriented software.