Software agent-based applications, platforms and development kits

Intelligent agents and multi-agent systems (MAS) represent the next big step in the development of next-generation software systems, especially when consid- ing large scale distributed applications consisting of several sub-components with behavior that is increasingly di?cult to predict. This is supported by imp- tant research and development results and reinforced by the increasing uptake of agent-based solutions and services for real-world industries. In fact, software agent technology successfully addresses a number of highly relevant issues, like -?cient resource distribution, scalability, adaptability, maintainability, modularity, autonomy, self-sustainability, anddecentralizedcontrol, byprovidingpowerfulc- cepts, metaphors and tools. The mentioned issues are often regarded as essential non-functional properties of emerging software architectures and systems.