Likewise, procedural code can be defined as external functions and called from CLIPS. In addition to being used as a stand-alone tool, CLIPS can be called from a procedural language, perform its function, and then return control back to the calling program. Rules and objects form an integrated system too since rules can pattern-match on facts and objects. In fact, CLIPS is an acronym for C Language Integrated Production System.

You can develop software using only rules, only objects, or a mixture of objects and rules.ĬLIPS has also been designed for full integration with other languages such as C and Ada. Rules may pattern match on objects and facts.

The five generally accepted features of object-oriented programming are supported: classes, message-handlers, abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism. _ Object-oriented programming, also primarily intended for procedural knowledge. _ Deffunctions and generic functions, which are primarily intended for procedural knowledge. _ Rules, which are primarily intended for heuristic knowledge based on experience. There are three ways to represent knowledge in CLIPS: NASA supports CLIPS and other software products developed by the STB through the STB Bulletin Board (please see back of this book for more details.)ĬLIPS is designed to facilitate the development of software to model human knowledge or expertise. The Internet news group comp.ai.shells often has discussions of CLIPS. It is now used by thousands of people around the world. Since its first release in 1986, CLIPS has undergone continual refinement and improvement. If you're either confused or intrigued at this point, go ahead and read this book anyway because I need all the readers I can get.ĬLIPS is an expert system tool developed by the Software Technology Branch (STB), NASA/Lyndon B. So this description of the Readme is actually metametaknowledge. The term metaknowledge means knowledge about the knowledge. The purpose of a Preface, oops, excuse me, a Readme, is to provide metaknowledge about the knowledge contained in a book.

Another suggestion was to call this the Don't Readme section, but since people today believe everything they read, I was afraid they really wouldn't read it. This section was formerly called the Preface, but since nobody read it, I renamed it to a more conventional title that computers users are conditioned to obey. The second step is realizing that you don't have to blab it to the world. The first step on the road to wisdom is the admission of ignorance.

Multislot loop in CLIPS