1. 1 The Tropos Advantage Eric Yu First Tropos Workshop Trento, Italy November 15-16, 2001

2. 2 Outline What is the Tropos Advantage? Two implicit assumptions in current AOSE methodologies The Tropos Advantage is …

3. 3 What is the Tropos Advantage? How is Tropos better than other AO methodologies ? How is Tropos better than non-AO methodologies ? What is the AO Advantage ? How is AO better than non-AO ? should be What should be the Tropos Advantage ? Is Tropos bringing out the best of the AO Advantage?

4. 4 Observation: Implicit Assumption #1 The objective of AOSE methodologies is … to enable AO Systems to be developed. –Means-Ends: AO computational system is the “End” AOSE meth is the “Means” –An AOSE meth is intended to lead only to an Agent technology based system.

5. 5 Challenging Assumption #1 What is the purpose of Sw. Development? (hence, of a Sw. Dev. Methodology) –To produce software that addresses some real-world problem/needs Users don’t care whether it is AO, but do care that the problem will be addressed. –AO Tech is one possible class of solutions for addressing real-world problems –Matching of solutions to problems is done during the Dev. Process, not before. –A SE Meth should aim to address SE problems/ challenges, not to support a particular class of solutions. –Decision to adopt AO tech should be a result of applying a meth, not an a priori decision or foregone conclusion.

6. 6 Why Agent Technology ? ( the usual understanding of the AO advantage ) A better computational paradigm –More powerful functionalities –More flexible, robust, … –Better able to handle complexity New application environment conditions –Decentralized control, autonomy –Openness, dynamism, … Therefore, let’s adopt AO tech. (wholesale) –Now, we need a meth so we can develop a system

7. 7 Observation: Implicit Assusmption #2 The benefits of AO lie in the AO technology. –The methodology is just a way to get to the technology – the good stuff.

8. 8 Challenging Assumption #2 Software Development Stages –At each stage, we are solving part of the problem, narrowing the space of possible solutions, and moving incrementally towards the solution. –Decisions /commitments are made along the way towards the implemented system. –Run-time computational system is concrete manifestation of the “solution”, but a significant part of the solution lies in the decisions made earlier in the SD process.

9. 9 Realizing AO benefits An AOSE meth should guide decisions about what AO solution features to adopt (or not) at each point in the SE process, where applicable –Where and how to deal with what kinds of heterogeneity, distribution, conflicts, … –Where and how to deal with various kinds of change, dynamism… Decisions involve tradeoffs among competing requirements, design goals The benefits of AO (The AO Advantage) are realized at every decision in the context of the application requirements – made explicit in the tradeoff analysis (esp. NFRs) Must include non-AO options throughout!

10. 10 Conclusions Current AOSE mindset: –Technology-driven: Methodology in service of the technology Critique: –Cannot be faithful to the problem ! Desired AOSE mindset: –Problem-driven: Methodology in service of the problem

11. 11 The Tropos Advatnage is … need not… that those 2 assumptions implicit in other AO methodlogies need not apply to Tropos. In Tropos, –AO abstractions can lead to choice among range of AO technology features, without prior commitment. –AO benefits can be demonstrated at each step throughout the development process, not just at the end.

12. 12 Exploiting the Tropos Advantage Articulate, demonstrate, illustrate –Explicit addressing of SE goals at each step, eg. Tradeoffs among flexibility, life-cycle costs, time-to-market, reusability, … –Assessing of alternaitves – with AO and non- AO options side-by-side

13. 13 The scope of an AOSE methodology – as a viable SE methodology …should be broad enough to encompass –The classes of problems that AO tech are supposed to be good for –(All) classes of solutions for addressing the above problems, including AO tech solutions. Aim for contribution to SE, not just to AO Tech.