CLIPS IDE6.4.2

Build expert systems on macOS by creating and testing rule-based programs in CLIPS IDE, a single environment for development work. CLIPS uses production rules to represent knowledge and make decisions, making it useful for expert systems and other applications that rely on heuristics. These heuristic approaches can be easier to implement and maintain than conventional algorithmic solutions when the problem depends on practical rules or judgments.

The underlying C Language Integrated Production System was developed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center between 1985 and 1996. Written in C for portability, CLIPS can be installed and used on a broad selection of platforms, while CLIPS IDE provides its macOS-focused workspace for developers. Its integrated design suits people who want to develop rule-driven applications in an IDE rather than use a general-purpose application.

Typical uses include prototyping decision logic, encoding domain knowledge, and maintaining expert-system rules as requirements change. The 2022 game-based tutorial Adventures in Rule-Based Programming teaches the basics of developing CLIPS applications and is available in paperback, hardback, and eBook editions.

CLIPS IDE is freeware in the Developer Tools category, and version 6.4.2 supports macOS systems with either Intel or Apple Silicon architecture. Before choosing it, users should understand that its purpose is specifically CLIPS and expert-system development rather than general software production.