MAS-XP: A Conceptual Multi-Agent System Model for Representing and Coordinating Extreme Programming Practices

Abstract

Extreme Programming (XP) is a prominent agile methodology emphasising technical discipline, continuous feedback, pair programming, test-driven development, and refactoring. However, managing human coordination overhead, synchronising continuous integration, and maintaining architectural health across distributed teams present significant challenges. This paper proposes a comprehensive Multi-Agent System (MAS) as a high-level conceptual model for extreme programming (MAS-XP). By mapping XP roles, artefacts, and engineering practices into a high-level conceptual and architectural model, smart blackboards, and distributed profiles, the proposed model operationalises decentralised software engineering governance. The framework defines specialised agents for planning, pair programming, testing, refactoring, and feedback, interconnected via intelligent blackboard architectures and formal protocol sequences. This conceptual model provides an architecture for representing and coordinating XP software development activities.