Modelica

What do you like best?

The best feature is the access to the standard components in the libraries, that cover several engineering domains, and that the language and modelling system provide standards for how different components should be interfaced so you can connect them together. This makes building systems from components very easy.

What do you dislike?

The threshold for new users is high when it comes to the development of new components, or new domains. Debugging of your prototype components and models is difficult in equation oriented models, as there is no given causality that you can follow. It's the strength for system building but a weakness for debugging while developing new components.

What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?

Simulation of multi-domain system models, including mechanic, thermodynamic, electric, and control systems. The main benefit is that it is easy to compile complex models from standard components that are available in libraries. As long as there are libraries available then it is very easy to make new system models. With the programming language behind is is also easy to build very complex system models, for example to use for loops to create and connect a complete pack consisting of hundreds of individual battery cells. Where a single component can be studied in the context of its system.