Abstract
Visual environments for the modelling and simulation of complex, software-intensive systems are increasingly popular. While visual languages have many advantages, they may not be appropriate to render all details of a Discrete EVent system Specification (DEVS) model. Textual may be more appropriate, both to completely describe all details of a DEVS model (i.e., the content of transition and output functions), and to make the specification independent of the implementation platform (i.e., simulation implementation language). In this paper, we propose two textual notations that are used as part of an integrated modelling and simulation environment for the Parallel DEVS formalism. Both notations allow the specification of DEVS functions by means of neutral action code. DEVSPro uses Python-like textual syntax and supports the full power of Parallel DEVS. From this neutral specification, simulator-specific code is synthesized. DEVSLang supports blended textual/visual modelling. It is more restricted in expressiveness to match the limited expressiveness of visual notations. For example, the sequential states in an Atomic model must be explicitly enumerated. Visual DEVSLang models are transformed to their textual form in order to carry out syntactic and semantic checks. Possible detected errors are fed back to the visual modelling environment allowing the modeller to make changes directly in the source model. DEVSLang models are further translated automatically to DEVSPro models to allow for possible combination with DEVSPro models and subsequent analysis and simulation.
Highlights
As modern systems become more complex, they become more and more difficult to describe and analyze
We demonstrate our approach by building a Discrete EVent system Specification (DEVS) Integrated M&S Environment (IM&SE): by integrating/merging our two formalisms, and combining an existing visual DEVS modelling environment built in our AToMPM (A Tool for Multi-Paradigm Modelling [12]), with an existing Parallel DEVS Simulator: Python Parallel DEVS (PyPDEVS)
As PyPDEVS combines the full expressiveness of the Parallel DEVS formalism with that of the programming language Python, a language is needed at this expressiveness level too
Summary
As modern systems become more complex, they become more and more difficult to describe and analyze. We demonstrate our approach by building a DEVS IM&SE: by (conceptually) integrating/merging our two formalisms, and (in practice) combining an existing visual DEVS modelling environment built in our AToMPM (A Tool for Multi-Paradigm Modelling [12]), with an existing Parallel DEVS Simulator: PyPDEVS. In this IM&SE, modellers are able to visually define DEVS models while using embedded textual action code in order to specify each of the DEVS transition/output functions.
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