> Consider "Agent", which describes a very specific thing (namely autonomy), but that didn't stop everyone and their dog outside the field from calling their so

> Consider "Agent", which describes a very specific thing (namely autonomy), but that didn't stop everyone and their dog outside the field from calling their software a "database agent" or a "compiler agent" or whatnot, equating "agent" with "program". Actually, the only problem illustrated in your complaint is that you are unaware of the meaning of the word "agent". https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/agent https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/agent Considering how the definition of "agent" is "A person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect", it is quite clear that an agent isn't a program, but programs (or modules or components) are quite obviouly agents. In fact, each and every entity in a sequence diagram is an agent.