Making software process simulation modeling agile and pattern-based
Niniek Angkasaputra · 2004
In many disciplines, simulation is known for its advantageous capability of conducting close-to-reality experiments without affecting the real system or even demanding its availability. In software engineering, however, simulation - in particular software process simulation - is not yet widely accepted. One reason is the difficulty of delivering valid simulation models in time and in budget. As simulation models can be considered software, we believe that promising software development techniques such as agile methods and (design) patterns can be utilized to help solve the problem. We present a research plan that aims at enhancing IMMoS, a methodology for systematic simulation model development, by introducing agile techniques and design patterns. In order to illustrate some of our ideas, we provide an example of a design pattern for process simulation modeling. As our research proceeds, we expect that the new method, agile/P-IMMoS, will help shorten simulation model delivery time and cut down modeling costs without compromising model quality.