Resource handling

[pbayer]

Implement resource handling

• basic resource type
• add container
• example
• documentation

[pbayer]

The resources for now remain a stub.

I'll continue to work on them after releasing 0.3.

[hdavid16]

Can you elaborate on what you mean by add container?

[pbayer]

I guess I meant a type of continuous resource, something like a fuel tank that is filled with one type of fuel and from which defined quantities are taken until it is empty.

This is a common case. It justifies another type of resource that is operated slightly differently. For example, we need warning thresholds for the filling status and events that can be triggered if they are fallen short of or exceeded.

[pbayer]

At the moment I cannot rule out that there might be other basic types of resources that should be modelled.

We could look at what is common in other simulation packages.

[hdavid16]

Ok. I see this is line the inventory control problem in the examples. So do you think we need to define a container resource for users or just have them define their own resource struct?

[pbayer]

In Julia it is relatively easy to define resources and to then use them in simulations. What therefore is the point to provide a library for resources in DiscreteEvents?

I think, the main point is convenience and ease of use. Therefore if developing a resource handling library, we should try to cover the most common cases of resources and their use and at the same time provide an interface for users to enhance them for their needs and applications.