A C++ simulator generator from graphical specifications

Many languages for computer systems simulation (like GPSS and CSim) use a stochastic model of systems with the provision of adding procedural code for those aspects of the system that cannot be captured easily by a stochastic model. However, they do not support the hierachical simulation of complex systems well. Complex computer systems may have to be simulated at various levels of abstraction in the interests of tractability: the flexibility of being able to freely move between the different levels of abstraction is very desirable. For example, in the area of computer architecture, one might have analytical models, detailed simulation models and trace-driven models. In addition, these languages do not have user-friendly interfaces for specification of the simulated system. In this paper, we discuss the design and implementation of a simulation package for hierachical simulation of non-real-time computer systems: a Simulator Generator from a Graphical System Specification (SIGGSYS). A new language for system specification has been designed. In addition, the package has the following components: A graphical user interface to aid specification of the system to be simulated. A rear end that generates C++ code that implements a simulator for the specified system. A complete object library along with the header files that implement a functionally complete set of C++ base classes which can be built upon. C++ has been chosen as the intermediate language so that the modeller can use its support for object oriented programming