Geoffrey Gordon's is widely considered a foundational textbook in the field of computer simulation, primarily focused on discrete-event simulation. Gordon, an IBM engineer, is particularly famous for developing GPSS (General Purpose Simulation System), which is the first major software implementation for discrete-event modeling. Core Concepts and Methodologies
Blocks are the stations where actions happen. A transaction moves into a block, executes an action, and moves to the next. Key block commands include: system simulation geoffrey gordon pdf
Gordon’s breakthrough was conceptual. He shifted the focus from how to program a simulation to how to describe a system. GPSS introduced a block-diagram orientation that used simple, logical units to represent real-world entities. Key Concepts Introduced by Gordon: A transaction moves into a block, executes an
The ninth chapter focuses on the use of system simulation in decision-making, including the evaluation of alternative systems and the optimization of system performance. The tenth chapter discusses the limitations and pitfalls of system simulation, including the potential for errors and biases. While modern software like Arena
While modern software like Arena, AnyLogic, and Simio have replaced the text-based GPSS language, the theoretical foundations taught in Gordon’s System Simulation remain entirely relevant. Academic researchers and software engineers frequently seek out PDF scans of the original text for several reasons:
By organizing a program as a flow chart of blocks (such as GENERATE , QUEUE , SEIZE , DEPART , RELEASE , and TERMINATE ), Gordon allowed non-programmers to build highly accurate computational models. The Definitive Textbook: System Simulation (1969)