MAGIQUE - Changes content

Version changes are described here.

From 0.6 to 0.6.0.1

Details added. Some skills, like the forgetSkill, are added.

From 0.6 to 0.6.0.1

Command line excludePrefix system property has been added. Use it with -D java option :

java -DexcludePrefix=org.apache,foo fr.lifl.magique.Start YourMainClass args...

This property enumerates the prefix of the classnames that must be handled by system classloader (these classes could not be dynamically exchanged between agents), here all classes whose name begins org.apache or foo will be ignored.
By default the property contains the prefixes java, org.omg et fr.lifl.magique .

From 0.5 to 0.6

Tools to achieve and manage dynamic organization of multi-agent systems are provided. At now a special class of Agent "AcquAgent" has been created... this will probably disappear and only Agent should remain.

From 0.3 to 0.5

change in the way platform/agents are created : AbstractMagiqueMain abstract class must be used (only minor adaptation of existing program is required)
dynamic exchange between platforms of request args/ skill code is improved and even bud corrected
disconnection is improved

see the new draft tutorial for details on these points

From 0.3 to 0.3.0.1

some minor bugs fixed.

From 0.2 to 0.3

NOTE : compatiblity with older application is no more certified but only minor modifications have to be done to correct it.

Dynamic skill leaning by agent has been added : an agent can learn a skill from another (possibly remote) agent with no need to make further assumptions about the location of bytecode
A graphical environment has been added (see the magiqueGui.jar file and see the GUI section )
The "magique part" (ie. hierarchic) is now a skill.

From 0.1.0.5 to 0.2

Major modification in low layer : now RMI is used for comunication and a platform must be created on each host and agents must be added to the platform and platforms manage the communications. API has not been changed a lot. Note that for connection, the name of the agent you want to connect to is required.

From 0.1.0.4 to 0.1.0.5

KillSkill has been improved with a killHierarchy ability

From 0.1.0.3 to 0.1.0.4

with some JVM (neither hotspot, nor Solaris), a problem occured with socket communications. It has been fixed.
KillSkill is a skill to kill an agent, it has been added

From 0.1.0.2 to 0.1.0.3

there were problem for named requests
broadcast between agents inside the same JVM was wrong
when a skill is dynamically added, all the hierarchy above the learner agent is now alerted of these new abilities, this was lacking
fr.lifl.magique.skill.group had been created: it gathers skills for group notion. Groups can be dynamically created and agent can join one or more groups. Once he belongs to a group agent can send a message to all the other members. Notion of role can be implemented using this way. Only one agent should have the groupManagerSkill.

From 0.1.0.1 to 0.1.0.2

a DefaultSkill() has been created, its cronstructor required the agent it is added to. This default class allows you to use the perform /ask/askNow directly in a skill.
abstract class ActionSkill must be inherited to create an new skill for implemented action() (proactive part).

From 0.1 to 0.1.0.1

2 new constructors : one if you do not want to launch a server socket for the agent (note that this implies a restriction for the agent and that name unicity can not be insures in some cases), another if you want to precise no action() for this agent, ie. no proactive part.
action() can be plugged using setAction()