Description #
CLIPS (C Language Integrated Production System) is a forward-chaining rule-based programming language designed for building expert systems and knowledge-based applications.
History #
CLIPS was developed in 1985 by Gary Riley at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. It was created to enable the construction of artificial intelligence applications, specifically expert systems, and has been widely adopted in academia, government, and industry.
Hello World Code #
(printout t "Hello, World!" crlf)How to Run #
Option 1: Online
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/execute_clips_online.php
Option 2: Local
Download from https://sourceforge.net/projects/clipsrules/
Command to run:
Launch the CLIPS terminal and enter the code directly or load a .clp file.
Key Concepts #
- Rule-based (declarative) programming
- Uses a RETE algorithm for pattern matching
- Forward-chaining inference engine
- Supports facts, rules, and objects (OO extensions)
- Strong focus on expert systems and AI logic
- Interpreted and interactive shell-based execution
- No traditional control flow like loops or conditionals
- Modules and templates for knowledge organization
- Influenced by LISP and production systems
- Minimalist syntax and specialized use cases
Try It Online #
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/execute_clips_online.php
Fun Facts #
- CLIPS was originally developed to support NASA’s space shuttle and mission operations software.
- It has inspired other expert system tools like Jess and Drools.
- Despite its niche usage, it remains actively maintained and studied in AI education.
Resources #
Official SourceForge
CLIPS Reference Manual
GitHub Community Fork
AI with CLIPS Tutorial
