The Code is the Model

Luzius Meisser

International Journal of Microsimulation, 2017, vol. 10, issue 3, 184-201

Abstract: Conventionally, agent-based models are specified in a combination of natural language and mathematical terms, and their implementation seen as an afterthought. I challenge this view and argue that it is the source code that represents the model best, with natural language and mathematical descriptions serving as documentation. This modeling paradigm is inspired by agile software development and adopting it leads to various - mostly beneficial - consequences. First, discrepancies between the specification documents and what the model actually does are eliminated by definition as the code becomes the specification. Second, replicability is greatly improved. Third, object-oriented programming is recognized as an integral part of a modeler?s skill set. Forth, tools and methods from software engineering can support the modeling process, making it more agile. Fifth, increased modularity allows to better manage complexity and enables the collaborative construction of large models. Sixth, the way models are published needs to be reconsidered, with source code ideally being part of the peer review. Seventh, the quality of source code in science is improved as it enjoys more importance, attention and scrutiny.

Keywords: AGENT-BASED MODELING; AGILE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING; MODELING METHODOLOGY (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B41 C63 C88 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.microsimulation.org/IJM/V10_3/IJM_2017_10_3_6.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ijm:journl:v10:y:2017:i:3:p:184-201

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Microsimulation is currently edited by Matteo Richiardi

More articles in International Journal of Microsimulation from International Microsimulation Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jinjing Li ().