Introduction to simulation languages

  • Authors:
  • Robert G. Sargent

  • Affiliations:
  • -

  • Venue:
  • WSC '78 Proceedings of the 10th conference on Winter simulation - Volume 1
  • Year:
  • 1978

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to give a brief introduction to simulation languages. The paper contains a discussion on the hierarchy of computer languages and their relation to simulation, the advantages and disadvantages of using simulation languages, factors to consider when selecting a language, and some of the characteristics of the three most popular discrete simulation languages. A more thorough treatment of simulation languages and their use are contained in [2], [4], and [10]. A significant portion of the effort in any simulation study is in programming the model to run on a digital computer. This programming occurs after the model has been defined. The selection of the language should, in general, be done prior to developing the model to be programmed because (i) there must be a comptibility between how the system is modeled and the computer language used and (ii) some simulation languages aid in the modelling process. The language selected is usually a general purpose language (higher level language) or a simulation language.