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# Basic SimPy - Manual For First Time Users

Authors: | G A Vignaux and Klaus Muller
Date: | April 06, 2009
SimPy release: | 2.0.1
Python-Version: | 2.3 and later (not 3.0)

Contents

- Basic SimPy - Manual For First Time Users
  - Introduction
  - Simulation with SimPy
  - Processes
  - Resources
  - Random Number Generation
  - Monitors and Recording Simulation Results
  - Appendices

## Introduction

SimPy is a free, open-source discrete-event simulation system written in Python. It provides a number of tools for programmers writing simulation programs. This document is a description of basic techniques of SimPy. It describes a subset of SimPy’s capabilities - sufficient, we think, to develop standard simulations. You may also find The Bank tutorial included in SimPy’s distribution helpful in the early stages. The full SimPy Manual, included in the distribution, is more detailed.

The active elements (or entities) of a SimPy model are objects of a class defined by the programmer (see Processes, section 3). Each entity has a standard method, a Process Execution Method (referred to by SimPy programmers as a PEM) which specifies its actions in detail. Each PEM runs in parallel with (and may interact with) the PEMs of other entities.

The activity of an entity may be delayed for fixed or random times, queued at resource facilities, and may be interrupted by or interact in different ways with other entities and components. For example in a gas station model, automobile entities (objects of an Automobile Class) may have to wait at the gas station for a pump to become available. On obtaining a pump it takes time to fill the tank. The pump is then released for the next automobile in the queue if there is one.

SimPy has three kinds of resource facilities (Resources, Levels, and Stores). Each type models a congestion point where entities queue while waiting to acquire or, in some cases, to deposit a resource.SimPy automatically handles the queueing.

- Resources have one or more identical resource units, each of which can be held by entities. Extending the example above, the gas station might be modelled as a Resource with its pumps as resource units. When a car requests a pump the gas station resource automatically queues it until a pump becomes available (perhaps immediately). The car holds the pump until it finishes refuelling and then releases it for use by the next car.
- `Levels` (not treated here) model the supply and consumption of a homogeneous undifferentiated “material”. The Level holds an amount that is fully described by a non-negative number which can be increased or decreased by entities. For example, a gas station stores gas in large storage tanks. The tanks can be filled by tankers and emptied by cars refuelling. In contrast to the operation of a Resource, a car need not return the gas to the gas station.
- `Stores` (not treated here) model the production and consumption of distinguishable items. A Store holds a list of items. Entities can insert or remove items from the list and these can be of any type. They can even be SimPy process objects. For example, the gas station holds spares of different types. A car might request a set of spares from the Store. The store is replenished by deliveries from a warehouse.

SimPy also supplies Monitors and Tallys to record simulation events. Monitors are used to compile summary statistics such as waiting times and queue lengths. These statistics includes simple averages and variances, time-weighted averages, or histograms. In particular, data can be gathered on the queues associated with Resources, Levels and Stores. For example we may collect data on the average number of cars waiting at the gas station and the distribution of their waiting times. Monitors preserve complete time-series records that may later be used for more advanced post-simulation analyses. A simpler version of a Monitor is a Tally which provides most of the statistical facilities but does not retain a complete time-series record. See the SimPy Manual for details on the Tally.

You need to write Python code to develop a SimPy model. In particular, you will have to define and use classes and their objects. Python is free and open-source and is available on most platforms. You can find out more about it and download it from the Python web-site where there is full documentation and tutorials. SimPy requires Python version 2.3 or later.

## Simulation with SimPy

To use the SimPy simulation system in your Python program you must import its `Simulation` module using:

> `from SimPy.Simulation import *`

We recommend that new users instead import `SimPy.SimulationTrace`, which works the same but also automatically produces a timed listing of events as the model executes. (An example of such a trace is shown in The Resource Example with Tracing):

> `from SimPy.SimulationTrace import *`

Discrete-event simulation programs automatically maintain the current simulation time in a software clock. This cannot be directly changed by the user. In SimPy the current clock value is returned by the `now()` function and you can access this or print it out. At the start of the simulation it is set to 0.0. While the simulation program runs, simulation time steps forward from one event to the next. An event occurs whenever the state of the simulated system changes such as when a car arrives or departs from the gas station.

The `initialize` statement initialises global simulation variables and sets the software clock to 0.0. It must appear in your program before any SimPy process objects are activated.

> `initialize()`

This is followed by SimPy statements creating and activating entities (that is, SimPy process objects). Activation of entities adds events to the simulation event schedule. Execution of the simulation itself starts with the following statement:

> `simulate(until=`endtime`)`

The simulation then starts, and SimPy seeks and executes the first event in the schedule. Having executed that event, the simulation seeks and executes the next event, and so on.

Typically a simulation terminates when there are no more events to execute or when the endtime is reached but it can be stopped at any time by the command:

> `stopSimulation( )`

After the simulation stops, further statements can be executed. `now()` will retain the time of stopping and data held in Monitors will be available for display or further analysis.

The following fragment shows only the main block in a simulation program to illustrate the general structure. A complete Example Program is shown later. Here `Car` is a Process class with a `go` as its PEM (described later) and `c` is made an entity of that class, that is, a particular car. Activating `c` has the effect of scheduling at least one event by starting `c`‘s PEM. The `simulate(until=1000.0)` statement starts the simulation itself. This immediately jumps to the first scheduled event. It will continue executing events until it runs out of events to execute or the simulation time reaches `1000.0`. When the simulation stops the `Report` function is called to display the results:

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    class Car(Process):
       def go(self):
          # PEM for a Car
          ...

    def Report():
       # print results when finished
       ...

    initialize()
    c = Car(name="Car23")
    activate(c,  c.go(), at=0.0)
    simulate(until=1000.0)

    Report()

In addition to SimPy.Simulation there are three alternative simulation libraries with the same simulation capabilities but with special facilities. Beside `SimPy.SimulationTrace`, already mentioned, there are `SimPy.SimulationRT` for real time synchronisation and `SimPy.SimulationStep` for event-stepping through a simulation. See the SimPy Manual for more information.

## Processes

SimPy’s active objects (entities) are process objects – instances of a class written by the user that inherits from SimPy’s Process class.

For example, if we are simulating a gas station we might model each car as an object of the class `Car`. A car arrives at the gas station (modelled as a Resource with `pump`s). It requests a pump and may need to wait for it. Then it fills its tank and when it has finished it releases the pump. It might also buy an item from the station store. The `Car` class specifies the logic of these actions in its Process Execution Method (PEM). The simulation creates a number of cars as it runs and their evolutions are directed by their `Car` class’s PEM.

### Defining a process

Each Process class inherits from SimPy’s `Process` class. For example the header of the definition of a `Car` Process class would be:

> `class Car(Process):`

At least one Process Execution Method (PEM) must be defined in each Process class (though an entity can have only one PEM active). A PEM may have arguments in addition to the required `self` argument needed by all Python class methods. Naturally, other methods and, in particular, an `__init__`, may be defined.

- `A Process Execution Method (PEM)` defines the actions that are performed by its process objects. Each PEM must contain at least one of the special ``yield`` statements, described later. This makes the PEM a Python generator function so that it has resumable execution – it can be restarted again after the yield statement without losing its current state. A PEM may have any name of your choice. For example it may be called `execute( )` or `run( )`. However, if a PEM is called `ACTIONS`, SimPy recognises this as a PEM. This can simplify the `start` method as explained below.

  The `yield` statements are simulation commands which affect an ongoing life cycle of Process objects. These statements control the execution and synchronisation of multiple processes. They can delay a process, put it to sleep, request a shared resource or provide a resource. They can add new events to the simulation event schedule, cancel existing ones, or cause processes to wait for a change in the simulated system’s state.

  For example, here is a Process Execution Method, `go(self)`, for the simple `Car` class that does no more than delay for a time. As soon as it is activated it prints out the current time, the car object’s name and the word `Starting`. After a simulated delay of 100.0 time units (in the `yield hold, ...` statement) it announces that this car has “Arrived”:

      def go(self):
          print now(), self.name, 'Starting'
          yield hold,self,100.0
          print now(), self.name, 'Arrived'

  A process object’s PEM starts execution when the object is activated, provided the `simulate(until=`endtime`)` statement has been executed.

- __init__(self, ...), where ... indicates other arguments. This method is optional but is useful to initialise the process object, setting values for its attributes. As for any sub-class in Python, the first line of this method must call the `Process` class’s `__init__( )` method in the form:

  > `Process.__init__(self)`

  You can then use additional commands to initialise attributes of the Process class’s objects. You can also override the standard `name` attribute of the object.

  If present, the `__init__( )` method is always called whenever you create a new process object. If you do not wish to provide for any attributes other than a `name`, the `__init__` method may be dispensed with. An example of an `__init__( )` method is shown in the Example Program.

### Creating a process object

An entity (process object) is created in the usual Python manner by calling the Class. Process classes have a single attribute, `name` which can be specified even if no `__init__` method is defined. `name` defaults to `'a_process'` unless the user specified a different one.

For example to create a new `Car` object with a name `Car23`:

> `c = Car(name="Car23")`

### Starting SimPy Process Objects

An entity (process object) is “passive” when first created, i.e., it has no events scheduled for it. It must be activated to start its Process Execution Method. To do this you can use either the `activate` function or the `start` method of the Process.

#### activate

Activating an entity by using the SimPy `activate` function:

- `activate(`p, p.pemname([args])`[,{at=`t`|delay=`period`}])`

  activates process object p, provides its Process Execution Method p.pemname( ) with the arguments args and possibly assigns values to the other optional parameters. You must choose one (or neither) of `at=`t and `delay=`period. The default is to activate at the current time (`at=now( )`) and with no delay (`delay=0`).

  For example: to activate an entity, `cust` at time 10.0 using its PEM called `lifetime`:

      cust = Customer()
      activate(cust, cust.lifetime(), at=10.0)

#### start

An alternative to the `activate()` function is the `start` method of Process objects:

- p.`start(`p.pemname([args])`[,{at=`t`|delay=`period`}])`

  Here p is a Process object. Its PEM, pemname, can have any identifier (such as `run`, `lifecycle`, etc) and any arguments args.

  For example, to activate the process object `cust` using the PEM with identifier `lifetime` at time 10.0 we would use:

      cust.start(cust.lifetime(),at=10.0)

#### The standard PEM name, ACTIONS

The identifier `ACTIONS` is recognised by SimPy as a PEM name and can be used (or implied) in the `start` method.

- p.`start([`p.`ACTIONS()]` `[,{at=`t`|delay=`period`}])`

  `ACTIONS` cannot have parameters. The call p.`ACTIONS()` is optional but may make your code clearer.

  For example, to activate the Process object `cust` with a PEM called `ACTIONS` at time 10.0, the following are equivalent (and the second version more convenient):

      cust.start(cust.ACTIONS(), at=10.0)
      cust.start(at=10.0)

A reminder: Even activated process objects will not actually start operating until the `simulate()` statement is executed.

### Elapsing time in a Process

A PEM uses the `yield hold` command to temporarily delay a process object’s operations. This might represent a service time for the entity. (Waiting is handled automatically by the resource facilities and is not modelled by `yield hold`)

#### yield hold

> `yield hold,self,`t

> Causes the entity to delay t time units. After the delay, it continues with the next statement in its PEM. During the `hold` the entity’s operations are suspended.

Paradoxically, in the model world, the entity is considered to be busy during this simulated time. For example, it might be involved in filling up with gas or driving. In this state it can be interrupted by other entities.

### More about Processes

An entity (Process object) can be “put to sleep” or passivated using `yield passivate,self` (and it can be reactivated by another entity using `reactivate`), or permanently removed from the future event queue by the command `self.cancel()`. Active entities can be `interrupt`ed by other entities. Examine the full SimPy Manual for details.

### A SimPy Program

This is a complete SimPy script. We define a `Car` class with a PEM called `go( )`. We also (for interest) define an `__init__( )` method to provide individual cars with an identification name and engine size, `cc`. The `cc` attribute is not used in this very simple example.

Two cars, `p1` and `p2` are created. `p1` and `p2` are activated to start at simulation times 0.6 and 0.0, respectively. Note that these will not start in the order they appear in the program listing. `p2` actually starts first in the simulation. Nothing happens until the `simulate(until=200)` statement at which point the event scheduler starts operating by finding the first event to execute. When both cars have finished (at time `6.0+100.0=106.0`) there will be no more events so the simulation will stop:

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    from SimPy.Simulation import *

    class Car(Process):
      def __init__(self,name,cc):
         Process.__init__(self,name=name)
         self.cc = cc

      def go(self):
         print now( ), self.name, "Starting"
         yield hold,self,100.0
         print now( ), self.name, "Arrived"

    initialize( )
    c1  = Car("Car1",2000)       # a new car
    activate(c1,c1.go( ),at=6.0) # activate at time 6.0
    c2  = Car("Car2",1600)       # another new car
    activate(c2,c2.go( ))        # activate at time 0
    simulate(until=200)
    print 'Current time is ',now( ) # will print 106.0

Running this program gives the following output:

    0 Car2 Starting
    6.0 Car1 Starting
    100.0 Car2 Arrived
    106.0 Car1 Arrived
    Current time is  106.0

If, instead one chose to import `SimPy.SimulateTrace` at the start of the program one would obtain the following output. (The meaning of the phrase `prior : False` in the first two lines is described in the full SimPy Manual. `prior` is an advanced technique for fine control of PEM priorities but seldom affects simulated operations and so normally can be ignored/)

    0 activate <Car1> at time: 6.0 prior: False
    0 activate <Car2> at time: 0 prior: False
    0 Car2 Starting
    0 hold <Car2> delay: 100.0
    6.0 Car1 Starting
    6.0 hold <Car1> delay: 100.0
    100.0 Car2 Arrived
    100.0 <Car2> terminated
    106.0 Car1 Arrived
    106.0 <Car1> terminated
    Current time is  106.0

## Resources

The three resource facilities provided by SimPy are Resources, `Levels` and `Stores`. Each models a congestion point where process objects may have to queue up to access resources. This section describes the Resource type of resource facility. `Levels` and `Stores` are not treated in this introduction.

An example of queueing for a Resource might be a manufacturing plant in which a `Task` (modelled as an entity or Process object) needs work done by a `Machine` (modelled as a Resource object). If all of the `Machines` are currently being used, the `Task` must wait until one becomes free. A SimPy Resource can have a number of identical `units`, such as a number of identical `machine` units. An entity obtains a unit of the Resource by `requesting` it and, when it is finished, `releasing` it. A Resource maintains a list (the `waitQ`) of entities that have requested but not yet received one of the Resource’s units, and another list (the `activeQ`) of entities that are currently using a unit. SimPy creates and updates these queues itself – the user can read their values, but should not change them.

### Defining a Resource object

A Resource object, `r`, is established by the following statement:

    r = Resource(capacity=1,
                 name='a_resource', unitName='units',
                 monitored=False)

where

- `capacity` (positive integer) specifies the total number of identical units in Resource object `r`.
- `name` (string) the name for this Resource object (e.g., `'gasStation'`).
- `unitName` (string) the name for a unit of the resource (e.g., `'pump'`).
- `monitored` (`False` or `True`) If set to `True`, then information is gathered on the sizes of `r`‘s `waitQ` and `activeQ`, otherwise not.

For example, in the model of a 2-pump gas-station we might define:

    gasstation = Resource(capacity=2,name='gasStation',unitName='pump')

Each Resource object, `r`, has the following additional attributes:

- `r.n`, the number of units that are currently free.
- `r.waitQ`, a queue (list) of processes that have requested but not yet received a unit of `r`, so `len(r.waitQ)` is the number of process objects currently waiting.
- `r.activeQ`, a queue (list) of process objects currently using one of the Resource’s units, so `len(r.activeQ)` is the number of units that are currently in use.
- `r.waitMon`, the record (made by a `Monitor` whenever `monitored==True`) of the activity in `r.waitQ`. So, for example, `r.waitMon.timeaverage()` is the average number of processes in `r.waitQ`. See Data Summaries for an example.
- `r.actMon`, the record (made by a `Monitor` whenever `monitored==True`) of the activity in `r.activeQ`.

### Requesting and releasing a unit of a Resource

A process can request and later release a unit of the Resource object, `r`, by using the following yield commands in a Process Execution Method:

#### yield request

- `yield request,self,`r

  requests a unit of Resource r

If a Resource unit is free when the request is made, the requesting entity takes it and moves on to the next statement in its PEM. It is added to the Resource’s `activeQ`.

If no Resource unit is available when the request is made, the requesting entity is appended to the Resource’s `waitQ` and suspended. The next time a unit becomes available the first entity in the `r.waitQ` takes it and continues its execution.

For example, a `Car` might request a `pump`:

    yield request,self,gasstation

(It is actually requesting a unit of the `gasstation`, i.e. a `pump`.) An entity holds a resource unit until it releases it.

Entities can use a priority system for queueing. They can also preempt (that is, interrupt) others already in the system. They can also renege from the `waitQ` (that is, abandon the queue if it takes too long). This is achieved by an extension to the `yield request` command. See the main SimPy Manual.

#### yield release

> `yield release,self,r`

> releases the unit of `r`.

The entity is removed from `r.activeQ` and continues with its next statement. If, when the unit of `r` is released, another entity is waiting (in `waitQ`) it will take the unit, leave the `waitQ` and move into the `activeQ` and go one with its PEM.

For example the `Car` might release the `pump` unit of the gasstation:

    yield release,self,gasstation

### Resource Example

In this complete script, the `gasstation` Resource object is given two resource units (`capacity=2`). Four cars arrive at the times specified in the program (not in the order they are listed). They all request a `pump` and use it for 100 time units:

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    from SimPy.Simulation import *

    class Car(Process):
      def __init__(self,name,cc):
         Process.__init__(self,name=name)
         self.cc = cc

      def go(self):
         print now( ), self.name, "Starting"
         yield request,self,gasstation
         print now( ), self.name, "Got a pump"
         yield hold,self,100.0
         yield release,self,gasstation
         print now( ), self.name, "Leaving"

    gasstation = Resource(capacity=2,
                          name='gasStation',unitName='pump')
    initialize( )
    c1  = Car("Car1",2000)
    c2  = Car("Car2",1600)
    c3  = Car("Car3",3000)
    c4  = Car("Car4",1600)
    activate(c1,c1.go( ),at=4.0) # activate at time 4.0
    activate(c2,c2.go( ))        # activate at time 0.0
    activate(c3,c3.go( ),at=3.0) # activate at time 3.0
    activate(c4,c4.go( ),at=3.0) # activate at time 2.0
    simulate(until=300)
    print 'Current time is ',now( )

This program results in the following output:

    0 Car2 Starting
    0 Car2 Got a pump
    3.0 Car3 Starting
    3.0 Car3 Got a pump
    3.0 Car4 Starting
    4.0 Car1 Starting
    100.0 Car2 Leaving
    100.0 Car4 Got a pump
    103.0 Car3 Leaving
    103.0 Car1 Got a pump
    200.0 Car4 Leaving
    203.0 Car1 Leaving
    Current time is  203.0

And, if we use `SimPy.SimulationTrace` to get an automatic trace we get the result shown in Appendix The Resource Example with Tracing. (It is rather long to be inserted here).

## Random Number Generation

Simulations usually need random numbers. By design, SimPy does not provide its own random number generators, so users need to import them from some other source. Perhaps the most convenient is the standard Python random module. It can generate random variates from the following continuous distributions: uniform, beta, exponential, gamma, normal, log-normal, Weibull, and vonMises. It can also generate random variates from some discrete distributions. Consult the module’s documentation for details. Excellent brief descriptions of these distributions, and many others, can be found in the Wikipedia.

Python’s `random` module can be used in two ways: you can import the methods directly or you can import the `Random` class and make your own random objects. In the second method, each object gives a different random number sequence, thus providing multiple random streams as in some other simulation languages such as Simscript and ModSim.

Here the first method is illustrated. A single pseudo-random sequence is used for all calls. You `import` the methods you need from the `random` module. For example:

    from random import seed, random, expovariate, normalvariate

In simulation it is good practice to set the initial `seed` for the pseudo-random sequence at the start of each run. You then have good control over the random numbers used. Replications and comparisons are easier and, together with variance reduction techniques, can provide more accurate estimates. In the following code snippet we set the initial seed to `333555`. `X` and `Y` are pseudo-random variates from the two distributions. Both distributions have the same mean:

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    from random import seed, expovariate, normalvariate

    seed(333555)
    X = expovariate(0.1)
    Y = normalvariate(10.0, 1.0)

## Monitors and Recording Simulation Results

A Monitor enables us to observe a particular variable of interest and to hold a time series of its values. It can return a simple data summary either during or at the completion of a simulation run.

For example we might use one Monitor to record the waiting time for each of a series of customers and another to record the total number of customers in the shop. In a discrete-event system the number of customers changes only at arrival or departure events and it is at those events that the number in the shop must be observed. A Monitor provides simple statistics useful either alone or as the start of a more sophisticated statistical analysis.

When Resources are defined, a Monitor can be set up to automatically observe the lengths of each of their queues.

The simpler version, the Tally, is not covered in this document. See the SimPy Manual for more details.

### Defining Monitors

The `Monitor` class preserves a complete time-series of the observed data values, `y`, and their associated times, `t`. The data are held in a list of two-item sub-lists, `[t,y]`. Monitors calculate data summaries using this time-series when your program requests them. In long simulations their memory demands may be a disadvantage

To define a new Monitor object:

- `m = Monitor(name='a_Monitor')`

  where `name` is a descriptive name for the Monitor object. The descriptive name is used when the data is graphed or tabulated.

For example, to record the waiting times of cars in the gas station we might use a Monitor:

    waittimes = Monitor(name='Waiting times')

### Observing data

Monitors use their `observe` method to record data. Here and in the next section, `m` is a Monitor object:

- `m.observe(y [,`t`])`

  records the current value of the variable, `y` and time t (or the current time, `now()`, if t is missing). A Monitor retains the two values as a sub-list `[t,y]`.

For example, using the Monitor in the previous example, we might record the waiting times of the cars as shown in the following fragment of the PEM of a `Car`:

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    startwaiting = now()             # start wait
    yield request,self,gasstation
    waitingtime = now()-startwaiting # time spent waiting

    waittimes.observe(waitingtime)

The first three lines measure the waiting time (from the time of the request to the time the `pump` is obtained). The last records the waiting time in the `waittimes` Monitor.

The data recording can be `reset` to start at any time in the simulation:

- `m.reset([`t`])`

  resets the observations. The recorded data is re-initialised, and the observation starting time is set to t, or to the current simulation time, `now( )`, if t is missing.

### Data summaries

The following simple data summaries are available from Monitors at any time during or after the simulation run:

- `m[i]` holds the `i`-th observation as a two-item list, [ti, yi]

- `m.yseries( )` is a list of the recorded data values, yi

- `m.tseries( )` is a list of the recorded times, ti

- `m.count( )`, the current number of observations. (This is the same as `len(r)`).

- `m.total( )`, the sum of the `y` values

- `m.mean( )`, the simple numerical average of the observed y values, ignoring the times at which they were made. This is `m.total( )/m.count( )`.

  `m.mean` is the simple average of the y values observed.

- `m.var( )` the sample variance of the observations, ignoring the times at which they were made. If an unbiased estimate of the population variance is desired, the sample variance should be multiplied by n/(n-1), where n = m.count( ). In either case the standard deviation is, of course, the square-root of the variance

- `m.timeAverage(`[t]`)` the time-weighted average of `y`, calculated from time 0 (or the last time `m.reset(`[t]`)` was called) to time t (or to the current simulation time, `now()`, if t is missing).

  This is intended to measure the average of a quantity that always exists, such as the length of a queue or the amount in a Level [1]. In discrete-event simulation such quantity changes are always instantaneous jumps occurring at events. The recorded times and new levels are sufficient information to calculate the average over time. The graph shown in the figure below illustrates the calculation. The total area under the line is calculated and divided by the total time of observation. For accurate time-average results y must be piecewise constant like this and observed just after each change in its value. That is, the y value observed must be the new value after the state change.

  `m.timeAverage([t])` is the time-weighted average of the observed `y` values. Each `y` value is weighted by the time for which it exists. The average is the area under the above curve divided by the total time, t.

  [1] | `timeAverage` is not intended to measure instantaneous values such as a service time or a waiting time. `m.mean()` is used for that.

- `m.timeVariance([t])` the time-weighted variance of the `y` values calculated from time 0 (or the last time `m.reset([t])` was called) to time t (or to the current simulation time, `now()`, if t is missing).

- `m.__str__( )` is a string that briefly describes the current state of the monitor. This can be used in a print statement.

### Monitoring Resource Queues

If a Resource, `m`, (and similarly for a Level or a Store) is defined with `monitored=True`, SimPy automatically records the lengths of its associated queues (i.e. `waitQ` and `activeQ` for Resources, and the analogous queues for Levels and Stores). These records are kept in Monitors `m.waitMon` for the `waitQ` and `m.actMon` for the `activeQ` (and analogously for the other resource types). This solves a problem, particularly for the `waitQ` which cannot easily be recorded externally to the resource.

Complete time series for queue lengths are maintained and can be used for advanced post-simulation statistical analyses and to display summary statistics.

### More on Monitors

When a Monitor is defined it is automatically entered into a global list `allMonitors`. Each Monitor also has a descriptive label for its variable values, `y`, and their corresponding times, `t`, that can be used when the data are plotted. The function `startCollection()` can be called to initialise all the Monitors in `allMonitors` at a certain simulation time. This is helpful when a simulation needs a ‘warmup’ period to achieve steady state before measurements are started. A Monitor can also generate a `Histogram` of the data (The SimPy `Tally` is an alternative to `Monitor` that does essentially the same job but uses less storage space at some cost of speed and flexibility. See the SimPy Manual for more information on these options.)

## Appendices

### SimPy Information

SimPy Web-site: | http://simpy.sourceforge.net/
Python-Version: | 2.3 and later (not 3.0)
SimPy version: | 2.0.1
SVN: | $Revision: 313 $
Date: | April 06, 2009

### The Resource Example with Tracing

This is the trace produced in the Resource example when `SimPy.SimulationTrace` is imported at the head of the program. The relevance of the phrases ``prior: False`` and ``priority: default`` refer to advanced but seldom-needed methods for fine-grained control of event timing, as explained in the SimPy Manual. The trace contains the results of all the `print` output specifically called for by the user’s program (for example, line 5) but adds a line for every event executed. (The `request` at time `3.0`, for example, lists the contents of the `waitQ` and the `activeQ` for the `gasstation`.)

    0 activate <Car1> at time: 4.0 prior: False
    0 activate <Car2> at time: 0 prior: False
    0 activate <Car3> at time: 3.0 prior: False
    0 activate <Car4> at time: 3.0 prior: False
    0 Car2 Starting
    0 request <Car2> <gasStation>  priority: default
    . . .waitQ: []
    . . .activeQ: ['Car2']
    0 Car2 Got a pump
    0 hold <Car2> delay: 100.0
    3.0 Car3 Starting
    3.0 request <Car3> <gasStation>  priority: default
    . . .waitQ: []
    . . .activeQ: ['Car2', 'Car3']
    3.0 Car3 Got a pump
    3.0 hold <Car3> delay: 100.0
    3.0 Car4 Starting
    3.0 request <Car4> <gasStation>  priority: default
    . . .waitQ: ['Car4']
    . . .activeQ: ['Car2', 'Car3']
    4.0 Car1 Starting
    4.0 request <Car1> <gasStation>  priority: default
    . . .waitQ: ['Car4', 'Car1']
    . . .activeQ: ['Car2', 'Car3']
    100.0 reactivate <Car4> time: 100.0 prior: 1
    100.0 release <Car2> <gasStation>
    . . .waitQ: ['Car1']
    . . .activeQ: ['Car3', 'Car4']
    100.0 Car2 Leaving
    100.0 <Car2> terminated
    100.0 Car4 Got a pump
    100.0 hold <Car4> delay: 100.0
    103.0 reactivate <Car1> time: 103.0 prior: 1
    103.0 release <Car3> <gasStation>
    . . .waitQ: []
    . . .activeQ: ['Car4', 'Car1']
    103.0 Car3 Leaving
    103.0 <Car3> terminated
    103.0 Car1 Got a pump
    103.0 hold <Car1> delay: 100.0
    200.0 release <Car4> <gasStation>
    . . .waitQ: []
    . . .activeQ: ['Car1']
    200.0 Car4 Leaving
    200.0 <Car4> terminated
    203.0 release <Car1> <gasStation>
    . . .waitQ: []
    . . .activeQ: []
    203.0 Car1 Leaving
    203.0 <Car1> terminated
    Current time is  203.0

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