Need a Python package suitable for visualizing queue simulations

Question

I am working on a simulation in Queueing Theory, within a wxPython GUI. (Project link.) What would be a good tool for visualizing the simulations? The visualization should consist of simple objects, such as clients, servers, a facility and a population. They should all be represented by simple boxes or something like that. There will be several queues in which clients will wait.

Since this is a visualization of a progressing simulation, objects will move around the screen, and it would be nice if they could move smoothly from one place to another, and not jump abruptly.

What would be a good tool to create that visualization? I could do it in native wxPython graphics. I could also use PyGame. But maybe someone here has something better to recommend?

Answer 1

Here's a list of some 2D Graphics packages you might consider:

http://www.vrplumber.com/py3d.py?category=graphics

Answer 2

wxPython has the OGL (Object Graphics Library) for doing this sort of thing. I have not used it so I don't know how useful or robust it is, but it should be easier than using raw wx graphics primitives.

It is in wx.lib.ogl.

Answer 3

Have you considered using NS3? It may be a little more than what you're looking for, but it is the standard for open source queue simulations. Here's the documentation on Python bindings for NS3.

Answer 4

You could try using one of the Python bindings for GraphViz. I could see something like this http://www.graphviz.org/Gallery/directed/cluster.html being used to illustrate a queue simulation.

I use Pydot and its gret: http://code.google.com/p/pydot/

The only problem is that Pydot only writes the GraphViz files, you would have to use GraphViz itself or other renderer (such as Canviz http://www.ryandesign.com/canviz/) to obtain the graphics.

The advantage is that you just have to defined the structure of the graph and forget about time-consuming details such as line routing, drawing, etc.

Hope it helps

Answer 5

I would consider using VPython. You could also create a dynamic graphic in Java using Processing, and have the simulation send update messages through your network protocol of choice.