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Agent Communication Protocols

Learn how AI agents exchange information and coordinate actions

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Why Standards Matter

Communication standards ensure that agents from different developers, frameworks, and organizations can work together. Without standards, every system would speak its own "language," making interoperability impossible.

Interactive: Protocol Comparison Tool

Compare different agent communication protocols:

FIPA (Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents)

Industry standard for multi-agent systems

📅 Created: 1996👥 Used by: Enterprise systems, JADE framework, commercial agents
Key Features:
✓22 standard performatives
✓Strict message format
✓Interaction protocols defined
✓Ontology support built-in
Advantages:
  • +Industry standard
  • +Interoperable
  • +Comprehensive
Disadvantages:
  • −Complex to implement
  • −Rigid structure
  • −Heavy overhead

Protocol Selection Guide

FIPA
When: Building enterprise systems that need interoperability with existing agents. Using frameworks like JADE.
Custom JSON
When: Building modern LLM-based agents, microservices, or systems where you control all agents. Need flexibility and speed.
ACL
When: Research projects, prototyping, or educational purposes. Want a simple starting point.
KQML
When: Working with legacy systems or knowledge-based agents. Rarely used in new projects.

🎯 Best Practices

  • •Choose based on ecosystem: Use FIPA if working with JADE/other FIPA agents
  • •Favor simplicity for modern systems: JSON protocols work well for LLM agents
  • •Document your protocol: If custom, create clear specs for developers
  • •Version your messages: Include protocol version for backward compatibility
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