The GPSS/PC student version

ABSTRACT

From its inception, GPSS/PC, itself, has always had features designed specifically to facilitate the mastery of the simulation environment by new users. Its basic design goals of visibility, control, and protection from unseen danger fit very nicely into the classroom.The GPSS/PC Student Version has been available to educational institutions at nominal cost, ever since Version 2 of GPSS/PC was released. It was designed to provide the visual interactive environment of GPSS/PC, including the error prevention and detection features, to students learning the GPSS language and/or simulation methodologies in general. Although the Student Version does not include the FORTRAN interface or the built-in spatial animation, it does include the animated graphics windows and is completely functional with respect to the simulation primitives of its big brother, the commercial version of GPSS/PC. In addition, its use of character mode graphics results in minimal hardware requirements in the laboratory yet retains the graphical user interface.Several recent improvements to the Student Version have improved its speed and power. Although the Student Version was never designed as a vehicle for advanced projects, users have occasionally requested that its capabilities be expanded. For this reason, in mid 1989, both speed and size limitations were somewhat relaxed.This paper presents the features and limitations of the current GPSS/PC Student Version, and discusses the advantages of the interactive and protective GPSS/PC simulation environment in the classroom.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.2 Simulation Languages

          Nouns: GPSS

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.5 COMPUTER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
      C.5.3 Microcomputers

          Nouns: IBM PC

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.1 Simulation Theory
          Subjects: Types of simulation (continuous and discrete)*

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION

General Terms:
Design, Languages

Keywords:
GPSS, discrete event simulation.