The key AnyLogic text is being updated and three new chapters are now online and available for download.
The Big Book of Simulation Modeling, Multimethod Modeling with AnyLogic 8, to give it its full name, is the go-to-book for those learning simulation modeling and AnyLogic. It is the only book to comprehensively present the three major paradigms in simulation modeling: agent-based, system dynamics, and discrete-event.
Suitable for both new users and professionals alike, the book provides practical step-by-step guides based on a variety of application areas.
The new chapters
In the first of the three chapters released with this blog, you will find an introduction to modeling and simulation modeling that sets out what they are good for and how they work. The second chapter in this release focuses on discrete-event simulation principles. It provides examples of events in AnyLogic to study and work through. While the third chapter available for download explores the importance of and ways to create sources of randomness.
Modeling and simulation modeling
Modeling is one of the ways to solve problems that appear in the real world. In many cases we cannot afford to find the right solutions by experimenting with real objects: building, destroying, making changes may be too expensive, dangerous, or just impossible. [Download]
Discrete events and the Event model element
The dynamics of the world around us appear to be continuous: there are no instant changes – everything takes non-zero time, and there are no atomic changes – every change can be further divided into phases. In discrete-event modeling, we only consider important moments in the system’s lifetime, treat them as instantaneous and atomic events, and abstract away from anything that goes on between two contiguous events. [Download]
Randomness in AnyLogic models
Uncertainty is an essential part of reality and a simulation model has to address this. The only way of doing so is to incorporate randomness into a model. Continue and read about probability distributions, sources of randomness in a model, and random number generators for reproducible and unique experiments. [Download]
More chapters will be released soon. Make sure not to miss them by signing up for the AnyLogic Newsletter. If you wish to learn more in the meantime, check out the other AnyLogic books or learn from the AnyLogic how-to video series.
About the authors

Dr. Andrei Borshchev is the CEO and co-founder of The AnyLogic Company, a leading provider of dynamic simulation tools, technologies, and consulting services for business applications, and is personally recognized as one of the world’s top experts in agent-based and multi-method simulation modeling.

Ilya Grigoryev is Head of Training Services at The AnyLogic Company. He is the author of AnyLogic documentation and AnyLogic training courses. He has given numerous public training sessions in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Asia. Ilya Grigoryev has been a simulation consultant to several organizations.