QUANTAS

A Quantitative User-friendly Adaptive Networked Things Abstract Simulator.

This project is a simulator that enables quantitative performance analysis of distributed algorithms. QUANTAS is an abstract simulator, therefore, the obtained results are not affected by the specifics of a particular network or operating system architecture. QUANTAS allows distributed algorithms researchers to quickly investigate a potential solution and collect data about its performance. QUANTAS programming is relatively straightforward and is accessible to theoretical researchers.

Dependencies:

By default, QUANTAS is set up for Linux and uses the g++ 9 compiler. Use this to install g++ 9:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test
sudo apt update
sudo apt install g++-9

If you would rather use clang, use make clang.

We are using the JSON interpreter library available on Github here.

We are using the thread pool library available on Github here.

Basic Usage

To use the simulator, first clone the repository. Once cloned, you need to configure the simulated algorithm for QUANTAS to run and an input file for the algorithm to use. QUANTAS comes with several example algorithms and input files. They are listed in the makefile in the root directory. Uncomment the required algorithm and input file, for example:

INPUTFILE := $(PROJECT_DIR)/ExampleInput.json
ALG := EXAMPLE_PEER
ALGFILE := ExamplePeer

selects EXAMPLE_PEER algorithm and ExampleInput input file.

Once configured,

make release 

compiles the simulator with the algorihtm, and

make run

runs the compiled simulation with the speicifed input file.

make debug

compiles the simulator for debugging.

MacOS

make clang

Visual Studio

To use our simulator with the Visual Studio editor takes additional steps. First, you'll need to create an empty solution. Next, right click on the solution explorer, in the dropdown menu select add from existing. You'll need to add all the .cpp and .hpp files in the quantas folder and Common subfolder.

The next step is selecting the input file for the debugger. To do this select Project -> Solution Properties -> Debugging in the Command Arguments field you can select your input file likely having to resolve the filepath. For example: C:\Users\User\Documents\QUANTAS\quantas\ExampleInput.json

The next step is to define the appropriate preprocessing symbol.

1. Select Project -> Properties from the main menu (OR, right-click on the project node in Solution Explorer and select Properties).
2. Select Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> Preprocessor.
3. Select the drop-down menu for the Preprocessor Definitions field and then select Edit.
4. In the Preprocessor Definitions dialog box, add the definition of your desired alogithm (one definition per line). For example, your Preprocessor Definition dialog box may look like the following.

WIN32
_DEBUG
_CONSOLE
EXAMPLE_PEER

5. Finally, select OK to save changes.

Finally, make sure the language standard is set to C++17 or newer. This can be done by selecting Project -> Properties -> Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> Language. Select the drop-down menu for the C++ Language Standard field and then select ISO C++17 Standard (/std:c++17) or any newer standard, e.g., ISO C++20 Standard (/std:c++20)

Further Info

QUANTAS is further described here: QUANTAS: Quantitative User-friendly Adaptable Networked Things Abstract Simulator

@article{oglio2022quantitative,
  title={QUANTAS: Quantitative User-friendly Adaptable Networked Things Abstract Simulator},
  author={Oglio, Joseph and Hood, Kendric and Nesterenko, Mikhail and Tixeuil, Sebastien},
  journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.04930},
  year={2022}
}