Standard object interface linkage (SOIL): reuse and interoperability for everyone?

摘要

The Modeling & Simulation (M&S) arena could be described as an "architecture-rich" environment - a plethora of architecture solutions have been "found" to the problem of M&S duplication (DIS, HLA, ALSP, JSIMS, JWARS, JMASS, SAMSON, et al), all promising some form of software reuse and/or interoperability. This paper proposes creating a (set of) Standard Object Interface Linkage(s) or SOIL(s) - basically an agreed-upon connection that models (objects) would use with simulations (architectures) for true "plug and Play" capability. This paper suggests that it is both feasible and preferable to define such a (set of) SOIL(s), which in the limit would allow, with reasonably little simulation (architecture) modification. the use of the same model (object) - literally, the same compiled code - in virtually all existing or planned simulations (architectures), something not even remotely possible today. This paper concludes that simulations (architectures) should be developed to the extent that they address different problem domains, but suggests restricting the models (objects) to development by object domain-expert consortia, using a (set of) SOIL(s), but otherwise free to choose whatever language/scheme makes sense for that domain.