JADE (Java Agent DEvelopment Framework) is a software framework to develop agent-based applications in compliance with the FIPA specifications for interoperable intelligent multi-agent systems. The goal is to simplify the development while ensuring standard compliance through a comprehensive set of system services and agents.
JADE can then be considered an agent middleware that implements an Agent Platform and a development framework. It deals with all those aspects that are not peculiar of the agent internals and that are independent of the applications, such as message transport, encoding and parsing, or agent life-cycle.
Telecom Italia Lab
Telecom Italia Lab is the R&D branch of the Telecom Italia Group and is responsible for promoting technological innovation by scouting new technologies, carrying out and assessing feasibility studies, and developing prototypes and emulators of new services and products.
Telecom Italia has conceived and developed JADE, and originated the Open Source Community in February 2000.
The JADE Open Source Community
“Open source does not just mean access to the source code” – O’Reilly
JADE is Open Source Software since Feb. 2000 (version 1.3) and it is released under the LGPL license.
The LGPL license keeps all contributors to the same level relative to each other and it respects and protects both the users and the authors. In the following you can have a fast and rough idea of rights and duties of this license but, please, refer to the official LICENSE file for more details and legally precise information.
In particular LGPL assures right to:
• make and distribute copies of JADE
• have access to the software’s source code
• make improvements to the program
• incorporate JADE into a proprietary program
• continue the JADE experience even if we stopped it !! (which will not happen, because we will not stop JADE so easily)
The LGPL mandates also some duties, and in particular:
• to not keep modifications private
• not change the license of JADE and its modifications
The Community built around JADE has been growing steadily through the years and it has reached a relevant strength, counting several thousands of Members and downloads of every new release and giving a significant contribution in JADE evolution
FIPA
The Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) is an IEEE Computer Society standards organization that promotes agent-based technology and the interoperability of its standards with other technologies as well as the success of emerging agent-based applications, services and equipment. This goal is pursued by making available in a timely manner, internationally agreed specifications that maximize interoperability across agent-based applications, services and equipment. This is realized through the open international collaboration of member organizations, which are companies and universities active in the agent field. FIPA’s specifications are publically available. They are not a technology for a specific application, but generic technologies for different application areas, and not just independent technologies but a set of basic technologies that can be integrated by developers to make complex systems with a high degree of interoperability.
JADE implements all those basic FIPA specifications that provide the normative framework within which FIPA agents can exist, operate, and communicate.