Distributing models as a product

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question

Andrew Jovaras asked Jan 15 2020 at 9:31 PM Ben Wilson edited Jan 17 2020 at 6:12 PM

Distributing models as a product

Hi there

I’m wondering if there’s a way to take a model I’ve produced, and package it along with some sort of “flexsim runner” to create a standalone application which can be run without the end user having to first install flexsim.

Looking around a bit I believe I could use the SDK to create a stripped down UI, and then provide the user with this model and runtime license; or I could host the model through the flexsim webserver and provide the user with a login, but I don’t think either of these provide me with exactly what I’m after (a model application which can be executed without a flexsim installation or network connection).

Software Version:

FlexSim 18.2.3

licensing distribution runner

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tannerp commented · Jan 15 2020 at 9:55 PM

I'm not an expert in this area, nor do I intend to be presumptuous, but "a model application which can be executed without a FlexSim installation or network connection" sounds like it would be on the fringe of being an illegal use of the software.

I'm not sure who your users will be, but maybe you could consider creating a video of the model run (with or without the UI shown) and send that to your client?

@Markus Cueva, do you have any thoughts on this?

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Andrew Jovaras commented · Jan 15 2020 at 10:15 PM

I think that's a fair comment Tanner. For what it's worth the motivation is more around privacy/security/convenience, it's not my intention to circumvent licensing, and I'm imagining each model would have a license attached. But yes I think there's valid business reasons that Flexsim as a company would be reluctant to support this use case.

Unfortunately the intention is for the client to load and process data not avaialble to us, so recording a video isn't an option.

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Markus Cueva ♦ Andrew Jovaras commented · Jan 16 2020 at 12:08 AM

The idea that came to my mind was also the webserver. The route you're describing via the SDK is a developmental path that I'm certainly not qualified enough to comment on.

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Kenny Macleod commented · Jan 16 2020 at 1:03 AM

I don't think the licencing is an issue, if the software can be bundled with a timed runtime.

There are two issues that I can see, perhaps they can be resolved:
1 - If FlexSim can be compiled with a model as a runable entity - i.e. equivalent to a Portable Application
2 - If Andrew's end-user can convince their IT department to allow an executable file to be run on their network. There's a big difference between COTS (commercial off-the-shelf software) and an exe file that hasn't been through commercial development.

@Markus Cueva - who's the best person to speak with - dev, consulting or sales? As Andrew says, there's potential for some funded development.

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Markus Cueva ♦ Kenny Macleod commented · Jan 16 2020 at 11:34 PM

This question was definitely in Phil's wheelhouse, so I'm glad to see that he provided an answer earlier today.

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Answer 1 · 2020-01-16T16:12:23Z

Phil BoBo answered Jan 16 2020 at 4:12 PM Ben Wilson edited Jan 17 2020 at 6:12 PM

FlexSim itself is the FlexSim model runner. If you want to run FlexSim models, install FlexSim.

All the dependencies needed in order to run a FlexSim model are installed when you install FlexSim.

Packaging those into a "model runner" would be providing an install that installs a version of FlexSim that can only run that one model. It would still need to be "installed" in order to run.

You shouldn't be running arbitrarily compiled executables anyways; that's a security risk. Having FlexSim produce models like this would be an IT security vulnerability.

Use the installer.

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