wetmore@iris.ucdavis.edu (Brad) (05/24/91)
In article <7976@uklirb.informatik.uni-kl.de>, rsw@cs.brown.edu (Bob Weiner) writes: > Date: Fri, 10 May 91 17:52 CDT > From: salbrech@dar-18.naitc.com (Steve Albrecht) > > CLIPS(NASA/JSFC) version 5 should do everything that you ask, but I am > not sure whether it is released yet. It has been "about to be released" > for over 6 mo. now. Full source and manuals included for ~ $400 thru > COSMIC(NASA's software distribution ceneter at Georgia Tech). The > object system is supposed to be CLOS-like. > CLIPS Ver 5.0 is definately out. I have the documentation here in my greedy little fingers, and I'm just sucking up the info as fast as I can. The release seems very thorough, but I have little experience in ES so I would probably NOT be the best person to ask about how this compares to others. I'll just tell you what I know. > CLIPS v4.3 is also very good except no object system. Of course, you > could role your own with C++ since the full source is available for $350. > The integration of the objects into rules could be simple or as complete > (and developmentally expensive) as you wish/can afford. > CLIPS ver 5.0 does support a language they call COOL, but I haven't got to read that section yet, so I don't know what it can do. But supposedly it does offer a "full" Object Oriented Programming Language. You'll just have to take their word for it until I have time to finish reading. The one nice thing we are finding is that it is pretty easy to combine your C or Ada source with Clips to very specialized functions. (Number crunching, interprocess communication, and so on.) From what I understand you simply write your application code, compile it, and link it with the original CLIPS code, and you end up with a much more versatile system. > There is no licensing or resistribution fee(even for the sources!) with > CLIPS v4.3(expect v5.0 to be same). > > [But COSMIC is quick to note that they operate on a cost recovery basis and > need revenues from distribution fees to continue their operations. Contact: > COSMIC > The University of Georgia > 382 East Broad St. > Athens, GA 30602 > service@cossack.cosmic.uga.edu W404-542-3265 F404-542-4807 ] > From the README.TXT file on how to get CLIPS CLIPS Release Notes (README.TXT) Version 5.0 March 22, 1991 [ ... stuff deleted ... ] HOW TO GET CLIPS ---------------- CLIPS was developed by the Software Technology Branch of the Information System Directorate at NASA/Johnson Space Center. CLIPS is available to NASA and USAF government organizations and their contractors by calling the STB Products Help Desk between the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM (CST) Monday through Friday at (713) 280-2233. Use of CLIPS is restricted as indicated in the NOTICE at the top of this file and on each diskette. US Government contractors should have their contract number, government monitor's name and phone number to provide to the STB Products Help desk to obtain CLIPS. An answering machine will take a message at other hours or when the line is busy. You may also use our electronic bulletin board to obtain information or leave us a message. The numbers are (713) 280-3896 and (713) 280-3892; set your modem at 300, 1200, or 2400 baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit. The bulletin board operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week except for maintenance. CLIPS is available outside of the NASA and USAF and their contractors through COSMIC, the NASA software distribution center. The cost of previous versions of CLIPS has been about $350 for both source code and MS-DOS or Macintosh executable. Unlimited copies can be made after purchasing CLIPS through COSMIC. The same source code will run on nearly any machine which can support an ANSI or K&R C compiler. The COSMIC program number is MSC-21208. COSMIC can be contacted at: COSMIC, 382 E. Broad St., Athens, GA 30602, (404) 542-3265.