From control files to experiment runs…

Here’s how a set of parameter sweeps will get translated into an actual experiment run…

1. Generate a tree of Sweep objects from a control file and/or command-line arguments. (In the case of the GUI, the Sweep objects will be generated live as the model backing the view.)
2. Get a list of parameter maps by calling generateMaps() on the top-level sweep.
3. Convert that list of parameter maps into a list of jobs for the grid system, querying the plugin for the model system (Repast, Drone, etc.) along the way to generate the job submission data (and do things like stage files if there isn’t a shared filesystem).
4. Submit the jobs to the grid.
5. On the client/submit end, monitor progress of jobs using output from CLI tool or via GUI.
6. On the agent end, run the jobs by passing the information to the plug-in. If required, stage files back to the FTP, etc. server when the job is done.