Specification Languages: Understanding Their Role in Simulation Model Development

Current software specification techniques and specification languages are reviewed, emphasizing research activities in software specification languages. Alternate software life cycle models are described and compared to a simulation life cycle model. The importance of constructing a model specification before creating a programmed model is emphasized. Disadvantages in using simulation programming languages as model specification languages are discussed. The multiple uses which are made of a model specification are presented; these uses correspond to the alternate uses made of a requirements specification for general software. To evaluate where specification tools for general software will be effective for simulation modeling, both areas where the simulation life cycle corresponds to a general software life cycle and areas in which they differ are characterized. Important