SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                      Washington, D.C. 20549

                           Schedule 13G


            Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                        (Amendment No. )*


                     CHORDIANT SOFTWARE, INC.
            _______________________________________
                          (Name of Issuer)


                           Common Stock
             _______________________________________
                  (Title of Class of Securities)


                            170404107
             _______________________________________
                          (CUSIP Number)


Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this
statement.   (A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1)
has a previous statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of
more than five percent of the class of securities described in
Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent thereto
reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such
class.)  (See Rule 13d-7.)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the
subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided
in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall
not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to
the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to
all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

                 (Continued on following page(s))

                        Page 1 of 6 Pages
CUSIP NO. 170404107             13G          Page 2 of 6 Pages

1  Name of Reporting Person
   S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person

   T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
   52-0556948

2  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*

                                                       (a) ____
   NOT APPLICABLE                                      (b) ____

3  SEC Use Only

   ______________________________

4  Citizenship or Place of Organization

   MARYLAND

Number of      5  Sole Voting Power
               **
Shares            2,605,605

Beneficially   6  Shared Voting Power
               **
Owned By Each     -0-

Reporting      7  Sole Dispositive Power
               **
Person            2,605,065

With           8  Shared Dispositive Power

                  -0-

9  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

   2,605,065

10 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain
   Shares*

   NOT APPLICABLE

11 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9

   7.4%

12 Type of Reporting Person*

   IA
               *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
         **Any shares reported in Items 5 and 6 are also
                       reported in Item 7.
CUSIP NO. 170404107            13G            Page 3 of 6 Pages

1  Name of Reporting Person
   S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person

   T. ROWE PRICE THRESHOLD FUND III, L.P.
   52-1878580

2  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*

                                                       (a) ____
   NOT APPLICABLE                                      (b) ____

3  SEC Use Only

   ______________________________

4  Citizenship or Place of Organization

   Delaware

Number of      5  Sole Voting Power
               **
Shares            2,605,065

Beneficially   6  Shared Voting Power
               **
Owned By Each     NONE

Reporting      7  Sole Dispositive Power
               **
Person            2,605,065

With           8  Shared Dispositive Power

                  NONE

9  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

   2,605,065

10 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain
   Shares*

   NOT APPLICABLE

11 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9

   7.4%

12 Type of Reporting Person*

   PN
               *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
**The aggregate amount reported on this page is also included in
the aggregate amount reported by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. on
page 2 of this Schedule 13G.
SCHEDULE 13G
PAGE 4 OF 6

Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:

          Reference is made to page 1 of this Schedule 13G

Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

          20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 400, Cupertino. CA
          950142217


Item 2(a) Name of Person(s) Filing:

          (1)  T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("Price
               Associates")

          (2) T. Rowe Price Threshold Fund III, L.P.

  X       Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of an agreement between
          the Persons Filing (as specified hereinabove) that this
          Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.

Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office:

          100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Item 2(c) Citizenship or Place of Organization:

          (1) Maryland

          (2) Delaware

Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:

          Reference is made to page 1 of this Schedule 13G

Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:  170404107


Item 3    The person filing this Schedule 13G is an:

  X       Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
          Investment Advisers Act of 1940

  X       Limited Partnership.  Statement filed pursuant to Rule
          13d-1 (c).


Item 4    Reference is made to Items 5-11 on page 2 of this
          Schedule 13G.
SCHEDULE 13G
PAGE 5 OF 6

Item 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

  X    Not Applicable.

_____  As of the date of this report, the reporting person(s) has
(have) ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five
percent of the class of securities.

Item 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
       Person

       (1) Price Associates does not serve as custodian of the
           assets of any of its clients; accordingly, in each
           instance only the client or the client's custodian or
           trustee bank has the right to receive dividends paid
           with respect to, and proceeds from the sale of, such
           securities.

           The ultimate power to direct the receipt of dividends
           paid with respect to, and the proceeds from the sale
           of, such securities, is vested in the individual and
           institutional clients which Price Associates serves as
           investment adviser.  Any and all discretionary
           authority which has been delegated to Price Associates
           may be revoked in whole or in part at any time.

           Except as may be indicated if this is a joint filing,
           not more than 5% of the class of such securities is
           owned by any one client subject to the investment
           advice of Price Associates.

       (2) Price Associates is the General Partner of each of the
           Threshold Fund(s) and therefore has the power to
           direct the receipt of dividends from, and the proceeds
           from the sale of, securities owned by the Threshold
           Fund(s).  State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
           custodian for the Threshold Fund(s), has the right to
           receive dividends paid with respect to, and proceeds
           from the sale of, such securities.  From time to time,
           the Threshold Fund(s) may make distributions of
           partnerhsip income to limited partners, none of which
           has an interest relating to more than 5% of the class.

Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
       Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent
       Holding Company.

       Not Applicable.

Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

       Not Applicable.


SCHEDULE 13G
PAGE 6 OF 6

Item 9   Notice of Dissolution of Group.

         Not Applicable.

Item 10  Certification.

         By signing below I (we) certify that, to the best of my
         (our) knowledge and belief, the securities referred to
         above were acquired in the ordinary course of business
         and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have
         the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
         issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
         connection with or as a participant in any transaction
         having such purpose or effect.  T. Rowe Price
         Associates, Inc. hereby declares and affirms that the
         filing of Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an
         admission that Price Associates is the beneficial owner
         of the securities referred to, which beneficial
         ownership is expressly denied.

                            Signature.

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my (our)
         knowledge and belief, I (we) certify that the
         information set forth in this statement is true,
         complete and correct.


Dated: February 29, 2000           Dated: February 29, 2000


T. ROWE PRICE THRESHOLD FUND       T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
        III, L.P.


By: /s/ Junerose C. Sordoni        By: /s/ Henry H. Hopkins
    Junerose C. Sordoni               Henry H. Hopkins,
    Vice President                    Managing Director


Note:    This Schedule 13G, including all exhibits, must be filed
         with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a copy
         hereof must be sent to the issuer by registered or
         certified mail not later than February 14th following
         the calendar year covered by the statement or within the
         time specified in Rule 13d-1(b)(2), if applicable.

02/29/2000
EXHIBIT A


                            AGREEMENT

                   JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G


     T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) and T. Rowe
Price Threshold Fund III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
hereby agree to file jointly the statement on Schedule 13G to
which this Agreement is attached, and any amendments thereto which
may be deemed necessary, pursuant to Regulation 13D-G under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     It is understood and agreed that each of the parties hereto
is responsible for the timely filing of such statement and any
amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the
information concerning such party contained therein, but such
party is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy of
information concerning the other party unless such party knows or
has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.

     It is understood and agreed that a copy of this Agreement
shall be attached as an exhibit to the statement on Schedule 13G,
and any amendments hereto, filed on behalf of each of the parties
hereto.


Dated: February 29, 2000           Dated: February 29, 2000


T. ROWE PRICE THRESHOLD FUND       T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
        III, L.P.


By: /s/ Junerose C. Sordoni        By: /s/ Henry H. Hopkins
    Junerose C. Sordoni               Henry H. Hopkins,
    Vice President                    Managing Director