winfrjs@dutrun.UUCP (Robert J. Streng) (03/20/90)
Delft University of Technology is working on a workbench that supports the construction of dynamic models of a part of the world. (Dynamic models are models that take the time dimension into account, as opposite to static models like function decomposition diagrams) A subset of the class of dynamic models are (dynamic) simulation models. We want to be able to construct a simulation model in an easy and comprehensible way, that is: highly interactive with a lot of visual feedback. After ample review and experimentation (prototyping) we have concluded that Eiffel can serve as the basis for our simulation workbench. Thus question one is: -> Is anybody using Eiffel in simulation-related applications ? The simulation model should be understandable. Because of this we want animation to be an integrated part of the workbench. The graphical abilities of the workbench are of eminent importance, and we also would like to be able to construct a Macintosh-alike user-interface with menubars, command-buttons, icons etcetera. However, the X-windows library looks a little bit shaky (I'm talking about Eiffel 2.2B) and so does the X-environment on our Sun 3. In the current prototype we use SunView as windowing system, a quick-'n-dirty interface to SunView allows the use of classes like SunWindow, SunPanelButton and SunCanvas, to mention a few. (As you can see I'm still a bigFanOfThisKindOfTyping) Question number two is on graphical user-interfaces in Eiffel: -> Are there people around working on a graphical interface for Eiffel. Is anybody using the X-environment ? So far our questions. A working paper called 'A workbench for dynamic modelling using Eiffel' is forthcoming, people who are interested can ask me for a copy. Thanks in advance for any reactions, I'll summarize and post reactions that are mailed to me. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert J. Streng Delft University of Technology duticai@winfrjs P.O. Box 356 Tel. (+31) 15 - 783805 2600 AJ Delft Private (+31) 15 - 618951 The Netherlands -------------------------------------------------------------------