Unifying Agent and Component Concepts

摘要: The construction of distributed applications is a challenging task due to inherent system properties like message passing and concurrency. Current technology trends further increase the necessity for novel software concepts that help dealing with these issues. An analysis existing paradigms has revealed each them its specific strengths weaknesses but none fits all needs. On basis this evaluation in paper new approach called active components proposed. Active are consolidation agent paradigm, combining it advantageous other types components. components, agents, autonomous respect their execution. Like they managed entities, which exhibit clear interfaces making functionality explicit. considerably broadens scope can be built as heterogeneous component types, e.g. agents workflows, used same application without interoperability problems shared toolset at hand development, runtime monitoring debugging. devises main characteristics highlights architecture implementation Jadex Component infrastructure. usefulness explained an example use case, shows how workflow management on top