The Howdy Glossary

OpenModelica is an open-source software created for modeling, simulating, and optimizing complex dynamic systems using the Modelica language. It offers a graphical user interface and a scalable architecture, which supports various abstraction levels to aid in system analysis and design. The software caters to industries like automotive engineering, aerospace, power generation, and process control by enabling simulations of physical phenomena in a virtual environment without requiring real-world prototypes.

The Open Source Modelica Consortium (OSMC), comprising various organizations and individuals aiming to promote open-source tools for Modelica-based modeling and simulation, developed OpenModelica. This consortium's collaboration facilitated the creation of a platform that describes systems involving mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, or thermodynamic components in a unified manner. OpenModelica was thus designed to meet the needs of several key industries by providing an accessible tool for simulating complex dynamic systems.

Despite facing competition from other software tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Dymola, Wolfram SystemModeler, and SimScale—which each have unique features—OpenModelica distinguishes itself through its open-source nature and support for the versatile Modelica language. Its scalable architecture allows users flexibility in modeling complex systems across various domains without needing physical prototypes. These attributes make it valuable for professionals in industries where accurate virtual simulations are critical as well as students gaining practical experience in system modeling and simulation.