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Andrew Jovaras avatar image
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Andrew Jovaras asked Ben Wilson edited

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).

FlexSim 18.2.3
licensingdistributionrunner
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tannerp avatar image tannerp commented ·

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 avatar image Andrew Jovaras commented ·

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 avatar image Markus Cueva ♦ Andrew Jovaras commented ·

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 avatar image Kenny Macleod commented ·

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 avatar image Markus Cueva ♦ Kenny Macleod commented ·

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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1 Answer

Phil BoBo avatar image
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Phil BoBo answered Ben Wilson edited

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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Ben Wilson avatar image Ben Wilson ♦♦ commented ·

Hi @Andrew Jovaras,

FlexSim Express, FlexSim's default, unlicensed state, can be used as a model viewer. Any model can be opened and run in FlexSim Express, though each model run will be identical to the last. But for opening and running any size model, FlexSim Express works.

A limitation on using FlexSim Express as a viewer is that it should not be used in making business decisions. See FlexSim's EULA, 4C. An example of a disallowed use would be a model builder distributing a model to various people around a factory. They run the model daily against the current schedule to get the results they need for making decisions for that day. Perhaps the model is built in such a way that the identical results between model runs produced by FlexSim Express is adequate. In that case, Express is technically capable of being used for this purpose, but is not licensed for it. The people running the model should really have runtime license to be fully compliant with the EULA.

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