Software engineering with agents: Pitfalls and pratfalls

While the theoretical and experimental foundations of agent-based systems a re becoming increasingly well understood, comparatively little effort has b een devoted to understanding the everyday reality of carrying out an agent- based development project. As a result, agent system developers needlessly repeat the same mistakes. At best, this wastes resources; at worst, project s fail. The authors identify the main pitfalls awaiting the agent system de veloper and recommend ways to avoid or rectify them where possible.