Amzi!News, January
2004
Amzi! 7.0.11 Adds DCG Debugging Support, Ease-of-Use Enhancements and
Bug Fixes
Version 7.0.11 is now available for download at http://www.amzi.com/download.
It features these improvements:
Dynamic database code execution is approximately 30% faster.
The source code debugger now supports most of DCG (except complex control
structures in DCG goals). The Debugger variable window shows variables
labeled DCG$X which are the generated difference lists, making it easy
to see how linked DCG goals are working.
The outline is generated even if there are syntax errors and error
reporting is improved.
Character lists are now displayed as character lists, that is "abc"
on a write statement is shown as "abc" rather than [0w0061,
0w0062, 0w0063].
New commands have been added to run and debug a single Prolog file
(very useful for students).
A new IDE
Quick Start has been added to the documentation.
For Linux, all four editions are now available: Free, Student, Developer
and Professional. These can be ordered on our website shortly.
And these problems have been fixed:
- The predicate bagof is fixed.
- Crashes resulting from retracting clauses during backtracking is fixed.
- The ; now works in the listeners on French Canadian keyboards.
- Output speed in the Eclipse IDE listeners is improved.
- Problems with running out of LogicServers have been fixed.
- The indexes in the Amzi! documentation under Eclipse have been repaired.
- The autobuild preference in Eclipse is no longer turned off.
How to Upgrade without a Full Download
If you are already running a prior version of Amzi! 7.0, you do not need
to download the full release. Instead you can download just the Amzi!
Core System (amzicore_7-0-11_win.exe) from http://www.amzi.com/download/prolog_download_sites.htm
(Linux users can also follow these instructions after expanding the amzi_7-0-11_lnx.tgz
file.)
Double-click on the exe to install Amzi! 7.0.11, then update Eclipse
by:
- Start Eclipse.
- Select Help | Software Updates | Update Manager. This opens the Install/Update
Perspective.
- In the lower left corner open your amzi/eclipse_install directory
in the directory you just installed Amzi! 7.0.11 into.
- Select the Amzi! Prolog + Logic Server IDE.
- Click "Install Now".
Also see the full Installation Instructions at http://www.amzi.com/manuals/amzi7/install.htm
Dr. Dobb's AI Newsletters Illustrate the Use of
Prolog
The DDJ AI Expert Newsletter often has a code corner that uses Prolog
to implement various ideas. The newsletters are all available at www.ddj.com
and at www.ainewsletter.com.
The issues containing Prolog code are:
2003 April
- An implementation of Bayes theorem for propagating probabilities.
2003 May
- The two faces of Prolog, illustrating the difference between straight-forward
logic bases and devilishly clever logic programming. The logic base is
pure Prolog implementing pricing rules, the logic programming is a few
lines of code implementing object-oriented polymorphism.
2003 September
- Code for a chat bot, an ontology, and the integration of the two, so
the chat bot can talk intelligently about concepts defined in the ontology.
2003 November
- An illustration of how to get started designing a custom tool for rule-based
programming.
2003 December
- A custom system that builds on the November 2003 one to form the basis
for a tool for building drug interaction systems. The system is designed
to handle a "first principles" approach, that allows it to predict
interactions of a drugs that were not previously known to interact.
The newsletter is free and you can subscribe to it at www.ddj.com
by following the newsletter link.
In the Press
 The
Premier Issue of the Microsoft EMEA Architect's Journal features Dennis
Merritt's article "Best Practices for Rule-Based Application Development".
The article contains a lot of overview material and finishes with a case
study of a custom system for vaccination scheduling. You can read the
article at: http://www.thearchitectjournal.com/Journal/issue1/article5.html
 Look for another
article on custom rule engines and the vaccination scheduling system in
an upcoming issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal.
 The
current issue of PC AI (www.pcai.com) has the article "AI and the
Law: How to Develop a Rule-Based Expert System in Prolog" at http://www.amzi.com/articles/ai_and_the_law.pdf
Amzi! inc.
5861 Greentree Road
Lebanon, OH 45036 U.S.A.
web http://www.amzi.com
tel +1 513 425 8050
fax +1 513 425 8025
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