Mobile agents with Java: The Aglet API

Java, the language that changed the Web overnight, offers some unique capabilities that are fueling the development of mobile agent systems. In this article we will show what exactly it is that makes Java such a powerful tool for mobile agent development. We will also draw attention to some shortcomings in Java language systems that have implications for the conceptual design and use of Java-based mobile agent systems. Last, but not least, we will introduce the aglet – a Java-based agile agent. We will give an overview of the aglet and, its application programming interface, and present a real-world example of its use in electronic commerce.