On Mon, Jan 21, 2008 at 11:22:33PM -0700, Marcus G. Daniels wrote: > Alfredo Covaleda V wrote: > > Months ago you had a discussion respect ABMs-OOP and you referred to > > some suitable languages. I wonder how appropriate are python and PHP5 > > to make simulations. ¿Are comparable C++, smalltalk, ruby, python and > > PHP5 ? > The odd one out there is C++, which is isn't dynamically typed like the > others. Basically that constraint makes it easier for the compiler to > optimize for speed but makes the process of modeling more rigid.
EcoLab gets around this using a technology called Classdesc, which provides the necessary reflection capability, without sacrificing the speed advantages of C++. > Dynamic typing may be a benefit or a drawback depending on your > perspective. If your goal is to test a specific hypothesis, using a > very specific simulation, you probably won't care about dynamic typing. > On the other hand, if you are trying to use the computer to poke around > a space and understand relations intuitively, and incrementally tweak > rules, you'll probably find it useful. > Indeed. I would argue that most scientific modelling is poking around a space - automated, or dynamic reflection is essential to reduce the amount of workload required of the programmer. Its one of the reasons I worked so hard on developing Classdesc, the others being that Objective C didn't turn me on much, and Repast hadn't been developed when I started. Oh, and I really found I couldn't do without operator overloading. Cheers -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A/Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Mathematics UNSW SYDNEY 2052 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Australia http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
