The hierarchical simulation language HSL

Abstract
The Hierarchical Simulation Language (HSL) was designed and developed to serve process-ori- ented simulation of discrete systems. It is interpreter-based and hence offers certain advantages, such as portability (hexdware independence) and modifiability (during program execution). An HSL model consists of two major sections. The Environment contains the specifications of the model and model control statements. The Simulator is a set of functions and processes that carry out the run-time activities of the model. Processes can be hierarchically refined or compressed, to whatever level of model detail desired. This paper describes the design character- istics and programming constructs of HSL. Several issues relevant to simulation languages in general and HSL in particular are then discussed. This is followed by an example HSL program presented to illustrate many of its features.