Data coupling and downcasting in discrete event simulation software

James Nutaro; Richard Ward; Glenn Allgood; Alexander Parfenov; Jason Holmstedt

Data coupling and downcasting in discrete event simulation software

James Nutaro, Richard Ward, Glenn Allgood, Alexander Parfenov, Jason Holmstedt

Computational Systems Engineering and Cy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

Abstract

Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) simulation libraries commonly make use of indirection and, essentially, typeless events as part of their interface specifi-cation. This forces library users to employ downcasting and/or strong data coupling in the design of their simulation applications. These techniques are anathema to good object oriented design principles, but seem to be inescapable when using pre-built DEVS simulation libraries. This paper describes how downcasting and data coupling emerge in the design of a computer architecture model. It is hoped that, by exposing the problem and its underlying causes, future research can be directed at improving software engineering techniques for DEVS simulation software.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	167-174
Number of pages	8
Journal	Simulation Series
State	Published - 2006
Event	2nd DEVS Integrative M and S Symposium, DEVS 2006, Part of the 2006 Spring Simulation Multiconference, SpringSim 2006 - Huntsville, AL, United States Duration: Apr 2 2006 → Apr 6 2006

Keywords

Devs
Discrete event simulation
Object oriented simulation

Cite this

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title = "Data coupling and downcasting in discrete event simulation software",

abstract = "Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) simulation libraries commonly make use of indirection and, essentially, typeless events as part of their interface specifi-cation. This forces library users to employ downcasting and/or strong data coupling in the design of their simulation applications. These techniques are anathema to good object oriented design principles, but seem to be inescapable when using pre-built DEVS simulation libraries. This paper describes how downcasting and data coupling emerge in the design of a computer architecture model. It is hoped that, by exposing the problem and its underlying causes, future research can be directed at improving software engineering techniques for DEVS simulation software.",

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author = "James Nutaro and Richard Ward and Glenn Allgood and Alexander Parfenov and Jason Holmstedt",

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journal = "Simulation Series",

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T1 - Data coupling and downcasting in discrete event simulation software

AU - Nutaro, James

AU - Ward, Richard

AU - Allgood, Glenn

AU - Parfenov, Alexander

AU - Holmstedt, Jason

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) simulation libraries commonly make use of indirection and, essentially, typeless events as part of their interface specifi-cation. This forces library users to employ downcasting and/or strong data coupling in the design of their simulation applications. These techniques are anathema to good object oriented design principles, but seem to be inescapable when using pre-built DEVS simulation libraries. This paper describes how downcasting and data coupling emerge in the design of a computer architecture model. It is hoped that, by exposing the problem and its underlying causes, future research can be directed at improving software engineering techniques for DEVS simulation software.

AB - Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) simulation libraries commonly make use of indirection and, essentially, typeless events as part of their interface specifi-cation. This forces library users to employ downcasting and/or strong data coupling in the design of their simulation applications. These techniques are anathema to good object oriented design principles, but seem to be inescapable when using pre-built DEVS simulation libraries. This paper describes how downcasting and data coupling emerge in the design of a computer architecture model. It is hoped that, by exposing the problem and its underlying causes, future research can be directed at improving software engineering techniques for DEVS simulation software.

KW - Devs

KW - Discrete event simulation

KW - Object oriented simulation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890256458&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:84890256458

SN - 0735-9276

SP - 167

EP - 174

JO - Simulation Series

JF - Simulation Series

T2 - 2nd DEVS Integrative M and S Symposium, DEVS 2006, Part of the 2006 Spring Simulation Multiconference, SpringSim 2006

Y2 - 2 April 2006 through 6 April 2006

ER -

Data coupling and downcasting in discrete event simulation software

Abstract

Keywords

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