3rd September 2007 in room 78.622 (General Purpose South) at 2pm

Afternoon tea will be served at 1:45.

Title:

Modelica tools and experience - creating a new programming environment for an equation-based language, and bootstrapping its compiler.

Speaker:

Peter Fritzson

Abstract:

The Modelica Eclipse plugin, development environment and OpenModelica compiler bootstrapping - two pieces of wisdom:

* In order to get acceptance for a new language, you need to have a decent programming environment.

* The developers need to use their own developed environment to get decent quality.

Discussion of this and similar approaches. Possibly a short demo.

The OpenModelica (MDT) Eclipse Plugin integrates the OpenModelica compiler and debugger with the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment Frame-work. MDT, together with the OpenModelica compiler and debugger, provides an environment for Modelica development projects.

This includes browsing, code completion through menus or popups, automatic indentation even of syntactically incorrect models, and model debugging. Simulation and plotting is also possible from a special command window. To our knowledge, this is the first Eclipse plugin for an equation-based language.

Format

Each session starts with a short talk (~25 min.) by a developer, which describes current or past work, and gives a personal critique of the usefulness of the software engineering process employed.

An open discussion will follow the talk, during which the attendees will be able to ask questions, make suggestions, or debate the merits of various tools and techniques.

Proceeding each talk, coffee and tea (as well as biscuits) will be available to improve attention, and encourage attendance.

Goals

The central goal of the discussion group is to facilitate sharing of software engineering expertise between developers and provide exposure to new methodologies and techniques. Our aim is to increase the level of software engineering expertise among complex systems modelers.

Talk topics may vary widely: the use of a design notation; the effectiveness of a particular tool; a description of current or past programming work; or a personal critique of the usefulness of a software engineering technique used.

We Need You

We are calling for people interested in presenting to the group to come along to the meeting on Monday or send us a short abstract and likely availability.

We also need interested participants to come along and share in the discussion.

If you have any questions or comments please contact:

Daniel Bradley <daniel@itee.uq.edu.au>

or

Leighton Brough <brough@itee.uq.edu.au>