Extensible 3D Simulation of Aggregated Systems with FCPP

Programming massively distributed systems in unreliable environments poses several non-trivial challenges. Such systems need to be able to adapt and self-organise, and special algorithms need to be developed for this purpose. In particular, simulators provide an irreplaceable tool for the development process.Among other tools for programming self-organizing systems, the FieldCalc++ (FCPP, implementing the field calculus in C++) library stands out for its efficiency, portability and extensibility, and its support for aggregate programs. On the other hand, the simulator's output was limited up to now to numeric statistical information, reducing the user's ability to understand and interact with the system under simulation.In this paper, we present a novel graphical user interface for FCPP, allowing for a real-time, interactive and three-dimensional visualization of the simulated system. Through this interface, the user can control the simulation flow, visualize summary information of the network at a single glance, and inspect detailed information via auxiliary windows. The interface is designed to require minimal effort from the end user for its setup, and can be further extended for increased interaction.