Multi-formalism and Multi-solution-method Modeling Frameworks: the Möbius Approach

Despite the development of many modeling formalisms and model solution methods, most tool implementations support only a single formalism. Furthermore, models expressed in a chosen formalism cannot be combined to interact with models expressed in other formalisms. This chapter provides an overview of selected performance/dependability modeling tools motivating the need for multi-formalism and multi-solution-method tools, provides an overview of the Möbius multiformalism, multi-solution modeling tool, and describes new enhancements to the tool by us and others. Möbius provides an infrastructure to support multiple interacting formalisms and solvers, and is extensible in that new formalisms and solvers can be added to the tool such that they can interact with those already implemented without requiring additional changes to the previously implemented ones. We hope that this chapter makes a clear case for multi-formalism, multi-solution-method modeling tools, and inspires others to join us in the creation of them.