Improved Techniques for Optimistic Modeling - MP 75-11

Optimistic processing is the key enabling technology for parallel performance of major MDA M & S projects ever since the Synchronous Environment for Emulation and Discrete Event Simulation (SPEEDES) was introduced to the MDA in 1997. However, writing rollbackable models as required for optimistic processing has proven difficult. The innovative opportunity is to automate the task of making code rollbackable by creating a standalone compiler. Metron, the sole developer of SPEEDES since 1996, proposes to build a compiler that takes model source code as input, generates equivalent source code that is rollbackable, and finally produces object code from the generated source code. Metron has identified an open source, freely downloadable technology that enables the building of such a compiler called ROSE. Metron will create a general use solution applicable to any optimistic framework, initially focusing on making SPEEDES models rollbackable. This effort will lead to considerable savings in development and debugging labor hours for those who currently write optimistic models, as well as making optimistic simulation much more reliable and robust, since it would essentially eliminate rollback errors. Such a compiler can automate many aspects of optimistic model development beyond rollback capability, such as event scheduling and event message packing.