Fora is a .NET product family for IEEE 1516-2025 / HLA 4 federate development, local RTI simulation, and integration testing.
SimGe 0.4.4 - May 03, 2026
This release (Release Notes) introduces a completely redesigned UML Deployment Diagram infrastructure for physical topology modeling, enhanced Federation Structure Diagrams with real-time architectural health badges, native drag-and-drop productivity for OMT elements, and deeper IEEE 1516-2025 (HLA 4) integration via a dedicated MOM Explorer.
Redesigned UML Deployment Diagrams (RTI Server, Network Bus, Nested Execution Environments)
Interactive FSD Enhancements (Health Badges, Module Note Icons, Visual Multiplicity)
UX Modernization (Native Drag-and-Drop, Workspace Tab Context Menus, Zoom-to-Fit)
Advanced HLA 4 Integration (MOM Explorer, Unsigned Primitive Support, Extended Callbacks)
Compatible w/ Fora Family
Simulation Generator (SimGe) is a fully-dressed High Level Architecture (HLA) object model editor, simulation design and development environment, and a federation prototyping tool with its code generation capability. SimGe fully supports evolving IEEE 1516 standards, including comprehensive alignment with IEEE 1516-2025 (HLA 4), while maintaining backward compatibility with earlier HLA specifications.
SimGe includes an integrated Object Model Development Environment (OMDE), Federation Architecture Modeling Environment (FAME), report generator, and code generator, providing an end-to-end toolchain for HLA-based simulation engineering.
SimGe OMDE enables users to manage, create, and modify HLA Object Models in full compliance with the IEEE 1516 Object Model Template (OMT). It supports the import and export of standard HLA artifacts, including Federation Execution Details (FED) and Federation Document Data (FDD), ensuring interoperability across simulation environments.
The Code Generator automatically produces platform-ready federate code targeting modern HLA infrastructures. While earlier versions relied on the RTI abstraction layer RACoN, the current architecture has transitioned to generating code fully compatible with the Fora.Client, aligned with the IEEE 1516-2025 HLA Federate Protocol.
This evolution establishes SimGe as a model-driven, HLA 4–native simulation development platform, combining standards compliance, automation, and modern software architecture practices.
The architecture of the generated code by SimGe conforms to the layered architectural style as specified in (Topcu 2013 and Topcu 2011).
Current capabilities of SimGe are presented in the following paragraphs.
OMDE consists of four integrated components: Dashboard, OMT Table Editor, FDD Viewers (1.3 / 2010 / 2025), and Diagram Editor, providing a unified and standards-aligned Object Model engineering platform. It Supports OMT 1.3, IEEE 1516-2010 (HLA Evolved), and evolving IEEE 1516-2025 (HLA 4) specifications. OMDE Supports multiple Object Models in parallel through independent OMDE instances. Each instance operates with its own dedicated toolbar and context-aware workflow.
The OMDE Dashboard provides a unified workspace for creating, importing, managing, and validating SimGe Object Models.
Architectural complexity metrics
Model health diagnostics (e.g., unused data types, inactive classes)
Direct navigation from analytical insights to related editors
The OMT Table Editor provides a modernized editing environment combining structured table views and dedicated dialog workflows.
Consistent editing of Object Classes, Interaction Classes, Parameters, Dimensions, Directed Interactions, and Time Representations
Integrated support for LogicalTime and LogicalTimeInterval definitions aligned with IEEE 1516-2025
Modernized metadata tables including Tags, Transportations, Switches, Update Rates, Synchronization Settings, and Notes
Improved validation and standards-aligned data handling
Enhanced consistency and usability across all OMT elements
OMDE provides integrated FDD/FED viewing and exchange capabilities across supported HLA standards.
Import and export of HLA 1.3 FED files
Import, export, and validation of IEEE 1516-2010 (HLA Evolved) FDD files
Import, export, and validation of IEEE 1516-2025 (HLA 4) FDD files
Improved cross-standard interoperability and processing consistency
The FDD Viewers include a fully modernized editing and inspection environment:
Integrated Status Bar displaying real-time cursor position (Line/Column), selection details, and contextual information
Inline Notification System providing action feedback (e.g., copy operations) without disrupting layout
Quick Zoom Controls for immediate text scaling and improved readability
Syntax Highlighting for FED, FDD, and generated code files, with structured color differentiation
Line Numbering for precise navigation and collaboration
Search Panel (Ctrl+F) with highlighted results for rapid content lookup
One-Click Copy All capability for exporting full document content
These enhancements significantly improve readability, inspection efficiency, and usability when working with large or complex FED/FDD documents.
The Diagram Editor enables advanced visual exploration and analysis of Object Models through a fully redesigned infrastructure.
Automatic generation of Object Class and Interaction Class diagrams
Directed Interactions Diagram for explicit visualization of interaction flows between classes
Direct visualization derived from the underlying Object Model
High-resolution PNG export for documentation, reporting, and design reviews
Supports structural analysis and communication of model architecture
FAME enables structured definition and management of Federation Architecture Models (FAM), supporting early-stage federation design, validation, and prototyping workflows. With the 0.4.4 update, it now supports professional UML Deployment Diagrams to model physical topology, including RTI infrastructure nodes, network buses, and nested execution environments.
Federation execution properties — including execution names, configuration parameters, and modular FOM/SOM associations — are centrally managed within the model. New quick-navigation "Jump to OMT" buttons and a dedicated MOM Explorer for IEEE 1516-2025 system modules ensure seamless transitions between architecture design and object modeling.
Federate applications can be added to or removed from the model, featuring visual multiplicity indicators (stacked boxes) and real-time architectural health badges. These diagnostic badges provide instant visual feedback on naming conflicts, missing modules, or configuration gaps directly on the diagram.
FAME provides a multi-dimensional visualization of federation composition through interactive Federation Structure Diagrams (FSD). Features like "pulsing" connection lines, rich metadata tooltips, and professional legends support deep architecture analysis and design validation before runtime deployment.
The Code Generator now fully targets the Fora.Client and produces clean, modern, HLA 4–compliant federate code aligned with the IEEE 1516-2025 HLA Federate Protocol.
Code is generated separately for each federate application defined in the federation architecture, based on its SOM.
Generated structure conforms to a layered architecture, ensuring separation of concerns and maintainability.
Async-ready Simulation Manager implements the full federation lifecycle (connect → create → join → initialize → resign → dispose).
Clean federate scaffold generated as a partial class, without legacy RACoN inheritance.
Federate class including skeleton callback handlers (Fora-compatible event handling model)
One class per HLA object/interaction class, including full inheritance support
Federate Simulation Object Model (SOM) class
Simulation Manager class (lifecycle orchestration)
Static Tags class with user-defined tags generated as ReadOnlySpan<byte> using UTF-8 literals ("..."u8)
Each generated class is placed in a separate source file for improved modularity.
Code generation configuration dialog allows selection of HLA management services and callback coverage.
FED and FDD files are automatically exported to the generated source directory, consistent with the FOM.
RG fully generates all HLA OMT 1516-2010 tables, including Interface Specification Services, producing comprehensive and standards-compliant documentation suitable for review and certification purposes.
The Project Explorer serves as the unified control center for managing every aspect of simulation development in SimGe.
Object Models
Inspect, navigate, and manage Federation Object Models (FOM/SOM) and their structural elements within a single hierarchical view.
Federate Applications
Configure, inspect, and validate all federate applications participating in the federation execution, directly in context.
Generated Code & Artifacts
Browse generated source code, project files, and related artifacts in a structured, searchable, and time-aware hierarchy.
By consolidating modeling, configuration, and generated outputs into one coherent explorer, SimGe provides a clearer mental model, faster navigation, and a workflow aligned with modern IDE expectations.
Distributed Simulation: A Model Driven Engineering Approach — A new book "Distributed Simulation: A Model Driven Engineering Approach" is coming. It presents some case studies using SimGe. You can place your order now.
Guide to Distributed Simulation with HLA — The only manual fully compatible with RACoN and SimGe Includes numerous step-by-step examples and code snippets to help the reader understand the RTI concepts Contains a large-scale case study serving as a running example, involving multi-agents Supplies links to downloadable sample source code Covers not only federation development, but also federate development.
ReportSample.pdf - A report sample generated by the SimGe report generator using the STMS case study.
SimGe Product Sheet.pdf - SimGe product sheet - one page flier.
SimGe Twitter — Follow SimGe (@OTOT_SimGe) at Twitter.
SimGe User's Forum — Subscribe to SimGe User's Forum. A Google Group.
To ensure SimGe runs smoothly on your machine, please ensure the following prerequisites are met:
Operating System: Windows 11 (64-bit recommended).
Framework: Microsoft .NET 8.
For Generated Code: Visual Studio 2026 or later is recommended to open and compile the simulation projects generated by SimGe.
Code Generation Platform: RACoN v0.0.2.5 and upper
SimGe is a free academic research tool provided “as is” without warranty or guaranteed support. It is intended solely for research and educational use and is not suitable for production or mission-critical environments. Backward compatibility is not guaranteed. Users assume all risks associated with its use. Feedback may be submitted via the Contact page.