Class template: primary approach for the flexible dynamic memory allocation in hybrid modelling software development

Abstract

Hybrid modeling is an intelligent knowledge acquiring strategy that becomes very important in the nowadays complex conditions and severe constraints. Hybrid modeling requires several types of 'building blocks' or basic components: standalone efficient solvers, interfaces between the data sources, mathematical libraries etc. When a new model must be conceived, new components must be swiftly developed. The short access time to large amount of data is a basic requirement which was a constant concern of ours along the time. Our latest solution is based on class templates used to dynamically allocate the memory by creating circular doubly linked lists and other upper level data structures. Facilities of the C++ Standard Template Library were also studied. We may consider the template classes as ‘stem cells’ in the software development process. Several cycles consisting of thorough analysis plus development of software demonstrators meant to clarify practical aspects led to a firm foundation and a strategy to conceive and rapidly develop effective software components for hybrid models, regardless the field of science.