Documentation

On-line:

The new manual web pages feature coverage of online and printable versions of manuals

Off-line:

Like the architecture of the AgentSheets environment its documentation is layered. Files are either in Adobe Acrobat PDF or Macintosh Word 5.0 format. New files are in Acrobat 3.0 since it provides significantly improved compression.

  1. Executive Summary: The AgentSheets environment, the Visual AgenTalk tool, RistrettoTMand WebQuest on just two pages. A high-density handout giving you an overview of the AgentSheets environment, its programming approach and its Agent-to-Java bytecode compiler technology

    AgentSheets-2Pager.pdf, Sept, 17, 1997, 308 kb, Acrobat 3.0

  2. Manual: The AgentSheets environment & the Visual AgenTalk language Getting Started,The basic components of the AgentSheets environment and the Visual AgenTalk tool. How to create a simple project.

    AS-VAT-Getting-Started.pdf, July, 15, 1996, 347 kb

  3. Research Paper: 1. Lewis, C., C. Brand, G. Cherry, and C. Rader, "Adapting User Interface Design Methods to the Design of Educational Activities," Proceedings of CHI '98, Los Angeles, CA, ACM Press, 1998 [abstract]

    LewisCHI98.pdf, Feb., 24, 1998, 37 kb

  4. Research Paper: Repenning, A. andAndri Ioannidou, "Behavior Processors: Layers between End-Users and Java Virtual Machines," Visual Languages 1997, Capri, Italy, 1997.

    Behavior Processors as means to reconceptualize programming for end-users. What does it take to empower end users to build their own Java applets without having to become programmers first?

    VL-97-Paper.pdf, July, 16, 1997, 252 kb

  5. PhD Thesis: Repenning, A., "AgentSheets: A Tool for Building Domain-Oriented Dynamic, Visual Environments", University of Colorado, Department of Computer Science, Boulder, CO, 1993.

    The original philosophical framework behind the AgentSheets environment: construction paradigms, programming as problem solving, participatory theater, and Metaphors as mediators [detailed abstract].

    Cover-Page.pdf, 1993, 12 kb, must have cover page originally rejected by the CS department.

    Repenning-PhD.pdf, 1993, 756 kb, 171 pages

  6. MS Thesis: Braden Scott Craig., "AGES: AgentSheets Genetic Evolutionary Simulations," University of Colorado, Department of Computer Science, Boulder, CO, 1997.

    AgentSheets Genetic Evolutionary Simulations (AGES) is a system developed with the AgentSheets environment with the VisualAgenTalk language (AS-VAT) to promote the study of complex adaptive systems (cas) subject to evolution. AGES can be used to model a wide array of cas, from ecological systems such as a rain forest to economic systems such as the New York Stock Exchange. Being embedded in AS-VAT, AGES enables non-expert end-users of all ages to explore interesting and important concepts of cas through programming.

    Craig-Thesis.pdf, 1997, 844 kb, 62 pages

  7. MS Thesis: Rausch, Martin F., "Supporting Collaborative Contextualized Learning with a Medium for Indirect Communication," University of Colorado, Department of Computer Science, Boulder, CO, 1996.

    Instead of creating simulations, and games from scratch they can be composed from higher level components with behaviors called agents. This report descibes how middle school kids have created agents in the AgentSheets environment and shared them via a web-based forum called AgentShare [detailed abstract].

    Rausch-Thesis.pdf, 1996, 410 kb

  8. Research Paper: Repenning, A. and J. Ambach, "Tactile Programming: A Unified Manipulation Paradigm Supporting Program Comprehension, Composition and Sharing," Visual Languages 1996, Boulder, CO, 1996.

    A paper about the philosophy behind tactile programming and the implementation of the Visual AgenTalk language. How the Visual AgenTalk language supports comprehension, composition and sharing via the World Wide Web.

    VL-96-Paper.pdf, February 12, 1996, 473 kb

  9. Research Paper: Repenning, A., "Bending the Rules: Steps toward Semantically enriched Graphical Rewrite Rules," Proceeding of Visual Languages, Darmstadt, Germany, 1995, pp. 226-233.

    Tracing back the history of rewrite rules to 1964. In the context of the original 1991 AgentSheets rewrite system illustrates issues such as the implicit nature of graphical rewrite rules leading to combinatorial explosion. Discusses the addition of semantic information to rewrite rules and the use of analogies to address issues.

    VL-95-Paper.hqx, November 4, 1995, 170 kb

  10. Visual AgenTalk Developer Manual: how to create command macros and how to extend the programming language by creating your own commands. A VERY early version. You need this only if you like to peek under the hood of the VAT machinery.

    VAT-Manual.hqx, March, 23, 1996, 162 kb

  11. The AgentSheets environment Tutorial: explains the basic components; files, tools, etc. of Agentheets and how to program them in non-visual AgenTalk language in the context of creating some simple projects.

    AS-Tutorial.hqx, November, 1995, 298 kb

  12. The AgentSheets environment Reference Manual. Unfortunately incomplete.

    AS-Reference.hqx, December, 1995, 400 kb

  13. The OPUS Manual: How to program with OPUS. OPUS is the full fledged (multiple inheritance, class/instance) object-oriented programming environment programming substrate used by the AgenTalk language. If you only want to program in the Visual AgenTalk language you don't need this manual.

    OPUS-Manual.hqx, April, 1991, 85 kb

To a large degree the AgentSheets environment was created in a botton-up manner driven by its users. Design patterns on each individual level shaped the next higher level. This process is also reflected in the documentation that, unfortunately, is not quite finished for the most recent high level programming interfaces.