Toward a uniform simulation language

Real progress has been made by the SCi Committee on Simulation Software in their attempt to specify a "stand ard" language for the digital simulation of continuous systems. Their success, as indicated by the discussion dur ing the Hybrid Software Standardization Seminar at the SNSCi Meeting in Boston, surprised many who thought that the Committee was attempting to satisfy everybody- a proverbially impossible task. The SCi Committee on Simulation Software grew out of a general feeling that some sort of direction was needed in the area of "digital simulation languages". For many people, this feeling was crystallized by Brennan and Line barger's article "A survey of digital simulation ..." (Vol ume 3; Number 6, page 22, December 1964). The riot of invention duplicated effort and apparent neglect of good ideas indicated the need for some guidance and control! Most of the developers of important simulation lan guages joined in the committee work. They met at rather frequent intervals, maintained effective communication through correspondence, and at length reached a con sensus on principles and concepts. The detailed specifica tion of a continuous system simulation language was then delegated to a working subcommittee. They are now preparing a document, the subcommit tee's report, which will be modified and approved by the entire Committee on Simulation Software.