TAOM 4 E : an Eclipse ready tool for Agent-Oriented Modeling

Current Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) methodologies adopt a model-based approach for analysis and design, but, in order to become of practical use, they should include it in a clear and customizable software development process and provide CASE tools that support it. In this technical report we describe the TAOM4E (Tool for Agent Oriented visual Modeling for the Eclipse platform) tool supporting the Troposagent-oriented software engineering methodology. Troposprovides a modeling language based on a multi-agent paradigm; it supports analysis techniques and a structured modeling (design) process. The Troposprocess covers whole software development cycle starting from the very first requirements. In developing the TAOM4E environment we are taking into account emerging guidelines and standards from the OMG’ Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) initiative which proposes an approach to software development based on modeling and automated mapping of models to code. The tool is based on the Eclipse Platform that offers a flexible solution to the problem of component integration. The motivations, the requirements and the architecture for the TAOM4E tool are described here in the very details. The report includes the current architectural diagrams and the working documents on the status of the development.