Guideware Corp. today announced an agent system for Java that allows developers to plug process management features into corporate intranet and extranet applications.

The company also introduced its first product supporting the agent system, the Guideware Software Developers Kit (SDK).

According to Sunil Mehta, Guideware CEO and product architect, the Guideware SDK will be marketed to software developers and system integrators developing sales automation, customer help-desk support, human resources, or other business applications that link a company's employees, suppliers, and customers. In intranet or extranet environments, these users can be in multiple locations, departments, or companies, and using a variety of computing platforms.

Using the Guideware agent system for Java, developers can deliver compelling customer solutions that streamline business process applications. Guideware agents can add new features into intranet/extranet applications with little revision of existing code. Applications using Guideware agents take full advantage of the Java platform and third-party Java classes for full platform independence.

"Sun is pleased to partner with Guideware, an industry leader, in its efforts to bring true enterprise-class agents to the application development tools marketplace," added Reed Hornberger, director, Advanced Development Solutions Group, Sun Microsystems. "The Java network computing platform is ideally suited for the Guideware agent system. The application development industry's de facto open systems standard, Java provides the 'write once, run anywhere' cross-platform mobility and security needed to build enterprise-class process tracking and control systems using the Guideware SDK."

Mehta said, "Guideware Corp. is differentiated from other agent technology developers by its focus on process-intensive business applications. Customers don't have to give up their legacy applications, and developers don't have to become expert in a new technology to gain the benefits of agent-assisted features." According to Mehta, developers can add agent-assisted features to legacy applications with minimal rewriting of code. In initial implementations using the Guideware SDK, agent features can be incorporated into existing applications by changing less than 5-10% of existing code.

Agents in Intranet/Extranet Applications

In extranet and intranet applications, Guideware agents coordinate and track processes, support online and laptop users, and provide more flexible management of business processes than workflow systems. Agents are tuned for network operation, allowing laptop users to work in either connected or disconnected mode. The use of Guideware agents improves the productivity of a business process application by enabling faster task completion, quicker problem resolution, and increased participation in the process by mobile workers.

Beta and prototype applications using Guideware agents include a suite of customer help-desk applications, geographically distributed project management, factory floor control, and medical patient treatment tracking.

The Guideware agent system for Java includes Agent Monitor software that controls agents and their access to the web and other applications. An Agent Monitor must be present on each computer and server using Guideware agents.

The Guideware SDK provides a Java application framework that simplifies the construction of agents that access data, make decisions, and notify users. The Guideware SDK is now being evaluated for 100% Java certification.

Applications developed with the Guideware SDK have complete platform independence through full Java compatibility. The SDK is compliant with Personal Java, ensuring that Guideware agents can run on handheld computers and other small-footprint devices. Guideware also delivers application security through the Java security sandbox.

In Use at the Andersen-Led ROAD Consortium

An early user of the Guideware agent system for Java is the Andersen Consulting-led Rapid Object Application Development (ROAD) Consortium, a large-scale software development project funded by the Technology Reinvestment Project of the DoD. The Consortium developed a variety of agent-assisted project management systems for implementation across broad geographies. All were built using the Guideware agent system.

The ROAD use of Guideware is believed to be the first time agent technology has been used in a large-scale software development project. In the ROAD project, Guideware agents operate in a CORBA- compliant infrastructure.

Andersen Consulting leads the ROAD Consortium, which also includes Raytheon, Expersoft, and CoGenTex. Developers in the Consortium collaborate on software development projects that extend across corporate boundaries.

Easy Implementation

The Guideware SDK provides a full set of tools, class libraries and sample code required to build deployment-ready agents.

-- A Java application framework simplifies the construction of

agents that access data, make decisions, and notify users.

-- Applications using Guideware agents take full advantage of the

Java platform and can access remote CORBA and DCOM objects.

-- Applications communicate with Guideware agent via Java

applets, CORBA services, ActiveX controls, or Windows DLLs.

-- Each agent carries its own web GUI and uses it to interact

with users.

-- Agents built with the Guideware SDK work with any web browser.

-- The Guideware SDK works with all Java development environments

and supports the Java Virtual Machine, version 1.0.2 or later.

-- Developers can build and test agents on a single computer and

then deploy them across a network.

Price and Delivery

The Guideware SDK is priced at $349 per developer and will be available in October 1997. The SDK can be purchased directly from Guideware Corporation. Information at www.guideware.com .

The Agent Monitor is available at no charge, without runtime or royalty, and can be downloaded from the Guideware web site.

About Guideware

Located in Fremont, Guideware Corp. creates software tools that allow developers to incorporate Guideware's agent system for Java into new or legacy applications. The company focuses on applying agent technology to process-intensive business applications such as sales automation, customer help-desk support, and human resources. Andersen Consulting is an early customer, incorporating Guideware agents into the Andersen-led Rapid Object Application Development (ROAD) Consortium. Information about the Guideware agent system for Java is available on the company's web site www.guideware.com .