Discrete-event simulation software

Simulation modeling based on a discrete-event approach is called discrete-event simulation.

Discrete-event simulation provides an effective way for receiving system characteristic in cases when it cannot be obtained with analytics, i.e. when exact formula either is not exist or its сomputational complexity does not allow to receive the result in a reasonable time.

Computer simulation software based on discrete-event approach can be used in many branches: traffic simulation, network simulation, safe evacuation in case of emergency simulation and much more.

This software may be applied for science, engineering and education.

Two styles of simulation

The OpenSIMPLY is a scientific software for researching both simple and large complex systems. It is suitable for people with any experience in modeling technique, so it can be perfectly used for engineering and educational purposes.

The OpenSIMPLY source code at the moment is compatible with the syntax of Object Pascal dialects such as Delphi and Free Pascal (Lazarus), and can be changed from the application level to the kernel level.

OpenSIMPLY offers two styles of simulation models: block simulation and Simula-like simulation.

Block simulation

This approach requires from the user minimum knowledge about the functionality of discrete-event simulation. The user should only connect required simulation blocks and assign the parameters. Each block is a complete item for modeling. Here is a model of M/M/C queueing system in terms of block simulation.

In this example the block "Generator" represents the source of entity flow, the block "Queue" represents the waiting line, the block "Selector" represents the distributor of entities betveen servers, the block "Server" represents the time delay.

User can add its own extensions: distribution laws, selection rules, functions; can create its own block that is not present yet; can modify existing blocks. Blocks are fully extandable in parameters and functionality.

Appreciate the simplicity of block simulation with OpenSIMPLY simulation examples of queuing theory.

Simula-like simulation

Simula-like simulation approach is very similar to Simula programming language ideology. This style is an advanced one. It provides low level simulation technique where user can implement any featuers of the system to be simulated. Here researcher has real freedom in the model behavior description.

The activation and suspension of the processes is a keyword for this simulation style. The models created with this approach are running much faster than block-simulation models. Even the model in Simula with some adaptation can be used with OpenSIMPLY.