Agent的威力在於自主性、分散於網路各機器上，代為處理繁瑣的工作。Java agent development framework extended (JADEX) 有belief, desire, intention (BDI) 推理機制，使得agent具有思考力且更貼近人類行為模式，讓agent有智慧。JADEX有獨特的技術用來推理intention (稱之為plan) ，並將agent definition file (ADF) 以XML檔案撰寫封裝。JADEX有非常獨特的推理機制、agent封裝以及互動方式。BDI agent框架提升了軟體的抽象層，減少實作複雜度與開發時間，但必須依照JADEX規範撰寫程式。我們用JADEX與Web ontology language (OWL)實作一套Travel Agent System，用來代理使用者決策，挑選出個人化的旅遊行程，並展現JADEX特色。Agent軟體工程的根本精神在提升抽象層次，把物件導向提升為agent導向，抽象層次提升後會直接改變程式撰寫方式，程式撰寫方式改變後也使得分析、設計等開發流程受到影響。本文除了分享實作此系統所得到的JADEX程式設計經驗之外，也一併探討agent框架對軟體工程的影響。The power of agent lies in its autonomy to take care of detailed things for user in a distributed manner over the Web. Java agent development extended (JADEX) comes up with the belief, desire, intention (BDI) model to enable agent to think in an intelligent way similar to that in human behavior. JADEX articulates a unique technique to reason about intention (called plan), to encapsulate the agent definition file (ADF) in XML, and to interact with other agents. Conforming to these JADEX standards enhances the abstraction level of software, and hence reduces software complexity and development cost and time. We used JADEX, along with Web ontology language (OWL), to develop a travel agent system that autonomously pick-up personalized tour package for user to demonstrate the JADEX characteristics. Further, agent-based software engineering is all about raising abstraction level from class to agent, which directly changes code writing style and indirectly affects analysis and design processes. The work looks into this in addition to sharing the JADEX development experience.
