Programming Multi-Agent Systems

ThesearetheproceedingsoftheInternationalWorkshoponProgrammingMulti- Agent Systems (ProMAS 2008), the sixth of a series of workshops that is aimed at discussing and providing an overview of current state-of-the-art technology for programming multi-agent systems. The aim of the ProMAS workshop series is to promote research on progr- ming technologies and tools that can e?ectively contribute to the development and deployment of multi-agent systems. In particular, the workshop promotes the discussion and exchange of ideas concerning the techniques, concepts, - quirements, and principles that are important for establishing multi-agent p- gramming platforms that are useful in practice and have a theoretically sound basis. Topics addressed include but are not limited to the theory and app- cations of agent programming languages, the veri?cation and analysis of agent systems,aswellastheimplementationofsocialstructureinagent-basedsystems (e. g. ,roleswithin organizations,coordinationandcommunicationin multi-agent systems). In its previous editions, ProMAS constituted an invaluable occasion bringing together leading researchers from both academia and industry to discuss issues on the design of programming languages and tools for multi-agent systems. We were very pleased to be able to again present a range of high-quality papers at ProMAS 2008. After ?ve successful editions of the ProMAS workshop series, which took place during AAMAS 2003 (Melbourne, Australia), AAMAS 2004 (New York, USA), AAMAS 2005 (Utrecht, The Netherlands), AAMAS 2006 (Hakodate, Japan), and AAMAS 2007 (Honolulu, Hawai’i), the sixth edition took place on May 13 in Estoril, Portugal, in conjunction with AAMAS 2008, the main international conference on autonomous agents and MAS.

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-conference proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Programming Multi-Agent Systems, ProMAS 2008, held in Estoril, Portugal, in May 2008 as an associated event of AAMAS 2008, the 7th International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems.

The 12 revised full papers presented together with 1 invited lecture address current issues in the areas of agent platforms, environment and interaction, agent programming languages, and analysis of MAS. The papers are organized in topical sections on agent programming languages, multi-agent systems frameworks, as well as agent environments and tools. The volume is concluded with a selection of 6 short papers related to the Agent Contest 2008 that has been organized since 2006 in conjunction with ProMAS.