Agent-oriented Software Modelling Language And Environment

One of the key factors that contribute to the progress in software engineering over the past two decades is the development of increasingly powerful and natural high-level abstractions with which complex systems are modelled, analysed and developed. In recent years, it becomes widely recognised that agents represent an advance in this direction that can unify data abstraction and operation abstraction. This thesis presents a methodology of agent-oriented software engineering by proposing a modelling language called CAMLE and reports our work in progress on a modelling environment.CAMLE stands for Caste-centric Agent Modelling Language and Environment. It is based on the same conceptual model of MAS (Multi-Agent Systems) developed in SLABS (Specification Langauge for Agent-Based Systems). CAMLE is intended to enable software engineers to develop cooperative information systems systematically through smooth and ordered transitions from models of current systems and users' requirements to the design and implementation of new systems evolutionarily. A multi-agent system is modelled by a hierarchicy of diagrams from different views at various abstract levels. In order to ensure the correctness, consistency and completeness of CAMLE models, we investigate the consistency constraints for CAMLE language. These constraints are computable and have been implemented in the environment. We investigate the automated transformation from visual models of MAS in CAMLE to formal specifications in SLABS. The transformation rules and algorithms are presented.The integrated CAMLE environment is intended to support MAS modeling in CAMLE language through a graphic user interface. Engineers describe information systems by constructing diagrammatic models. Then the environment can check the models' consistency and automatically derive formal specifications in SLABS from the CAMLE models. The design and implementation of the environment is reported and its uses are illustrated by examples and a case study.