Create next post in OTP series: `gen_statem` example

[oubiwann]

Find a good, interesting, or fun example to implement in LFE ...

[oubiwann]

There are a couple in the book "Designing for Scalability with Erlang/OTP" ...

[oubiwann]

Some examples here, but nothing really captured my imagination: https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/47806/examples-of-finite-state-machines

[oubiwann]

Hrm ... what about agent-based modeling?

[oubiwann]

Some reading materials for brainstorming:

• Agent-Based Economic Modeling With Finite State Machines
• A Finite State Machine Decision Algorithm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automata-based_programming
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetic_algorithm_applications
• Evolving Finite-State Machine Strategies for Protecting Resources
• Modeling Emotions and Reason in Agent-Based Systems
• Agent-based interpretations of classic network models

[oubiwann]

Btw, from @rvirding in a private email:

Don't use gen_fsm, there is a new state machine behaviour, gen_statem, which has taken over. It is better and has some nice new features, like setting state timeouts and being able to postpone the handling of events to another state.

Fun! Didn't know about that one; looking forward to learning it and sharing!

[oubiwann]

Also, this topic should be split into two:

• Basic intro to gen_statem
• In-depth, fun example adapted from technical literature (modeling, simulation, artificial life, etc.)

[oubiwann]

Thinking maybe some simplification of insect behaviour as a moderately interesting thing to explore with a state machine ... some papers/chapters that explore this:

• An ant-inspired model for multi-agent interaction networks without stigmergy
• Efficient spatial coverage by a robot swarm based on an ant foraging model and the Lévy distribution
• Routing Protocols for Next-Generation Networks Inspired by Collective Behaviors of Insect Societies: An Overview