Abstract
In the development of computer-based systems, modelling is often advocated in addition to programming, in that it helps in reflecting the application domain and that it makes the design and experiment activities of development more efficient. However, there is disagreement about what models are and how they can be used in software systems development. In this paper, we present the Scandinavian approach to modelling, which makes a clear distinction between models and model descriptions. This paper explains the connections between models, descriptions, systems, and executions. Combining the Scandinavian approach with the Kiel notion of model, we establish that both descriptions and executions are closely connected instruments with different roles. The paper argues that (program) executions are the models of dynamic systems, not their descriptions in terms of diagrams and text. So in a general sense programming is about writing descriptions for systems. In particular the paper clarifies when programming is also modelling.
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Notes
- 1.
The state changes can be continuous or discrete. We call the systems discrete versus continuous systems, or combined systems, if both kinds of state changes appear.
- 2.
There are also descriptions and prescriptions on M2 and M3, but this is out of the scope of this paper.
- 3.
The DELTA language report used the neutral term ‘generator’ that generates a system based upon a system description, i.e. provides the vertical relation. A generator could be a machine or a human being, or a mixture. In MDA, a generator is most often understood as a tool generating a new low-level description out of the original high-level description. This would amount to a horizontal generation and is not what semantics is about here.
- 4.
A debugger is a tool that can show the current state of execution in some notation.
- 5.
It must be shown that for the initial conditions and environmental effects of the original system that are fixed within the scope of the model, the model system produces the (qualitatively) same dynamic behavior.
- 6.
It must be shown that the effect structure of the model (for the model purpose) corresponds to the essential effect structure of the original.
- 7.
It must be shown that in the area of the model purpose, the numerical results of the model system correspond to the empirical results of the Originals under the same conditions, or that they are consistent and plausible if there are no observations.
- 8.
It must be shown that the model and simulation options correspond to the model purpose and the requirements of the user.
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Fischer, J., Møller-Pedersen, B., Prinz, A., Thalheim, B. (2021). Models Versus Model Descriptions. In: Dahanayake, A., Pastor, O., Thalheim, B. (eds) Modelling to Program. M2P 2020. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1401. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72696-6_3
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