Using domain specific language for modeling and simulation: scalation as a case study
John Arthur Miller, Jun Han, Maria Hybinette · Winter Simulation Conference · 2010
Progress in programming paradigms and languages has over time influenced the way that programs are written. Modern object-oriented, functional programming languages are expressive enough to define embedded Domain Specific Languages (DSLs). The Scala programming language is used to implement ScalaTion that supports several popular modeling paradigms. As a case study, ScalaTion is used to consider how language features of object-oriented, functional programming languages and Scala in particular can be used to write programs that are clear, concise and intuitive to modelers. The dichotomy between model specification and simulation program is also considered both historically and in light of the potential narrowing of the gap afforded by embedded DSLs.