Chapter 1 - ISSUES IN SIMULATION LANGUAGES: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Abstract

This chapter discusses simulation languages. A considerable number of simulation languages are in use at present. Each of these languages offers some features suitable for a particular problem or a class of problems. The most common classification of simulation languages is continuous, discrete, and combined simulation languages. Continuous simulation languages are specially designed to handle models that can be described by a set of differential equations. The examples of such simulation languages are CSMP and DYNAMO. Discrete event simulation languages are well suited for programming the models of systems whose states change discretely at given points in time—GPSS and SIMPL/1 are examples of such languages. Combined simulation languages, for example, GASP, NGPSS, and SIMSCRIPT, are capable of handling discrete event, continuous and combined simulation models. Continuous system modeling program (CSMP) is specially designed to represent models that are formulated as the systems of differential equations. DYNAMO is suitable for continuous models that are usually represented mathematically by difference equations. General-purpose systems simulator (GPSS) is a process-oriented type of discrete event simulation language. SIMSCRIPT is an event-oriented type of language that is designed for discrete simulations. General activity simulation program is a simulation language that can be used for discrete, continuous, and combined simulation models. SIMULA is a process-oriented type of a discrete event simulation language. The language views the system to be simulated as consisting of a collection of processes.