Wolfram Library Archive


Courseware Demos MathSource Technical Notes
All Collections Articles Books Conference Proceedings
Title

Thinking in Systems, Not Code: Using Modelica to Model and Understand Complex Systems
Author

Ankit Anurag Naik
Book information

Copyright year: 2026
ISBN: 9789153181767
Medium: Paperback
Pages: 160
Buy this book
Contents

Introduction
Thinking in Systems
Tools for Thinking about systems-and Their Limits
Modelica: A Language for Modeling Systems
Modelica in Action
Energy Systems and Infrastructure
Should I Invest in Rooftop Solar for My Home?
Modeling the Energy Transition: Scaling Systems and Testing Scenarios
Physical Systems and First Principles
Understanding the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics-Through the Eyes of an Engineer
Organizations, Economics, and Growth
Developing a Growth Strategy for a SaaS Company
Lessons from the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics
Advanced Engineering Applications
Modeling and Optimizing Thermal Management in Electric Vehicles
Combining Physical Models with State-Based Logic
Under the Hood
From Diagram to Simulation
The Solver Pipeline of a Modelica Model
Conclusion
Appendix
Appendix A
Description

Most people are taught to solve problems by breaking them into steps and writing code.

But complex systems—energy grids, electric vehicles, industrial processes, and organizations—don’t behave like step-by-step programs.

They behave like systems: interconnected, feedback-driven, and emergent.

Thinking in Systems, Not Code teaches you to model reality the way it actually works—not as sequences of instructions, but as structures where behavior emerges from relationships.

Using Modelica and equation-based modeling, you’ll learn to ask:

“How is this system structured?” instead of “How do I compute this?”

This shift makes complexity manageable—and models reusable across domains.

What You’ll Learn

Frame problems as systems, not isolated calculations Choose meaningful system boundaries and levels of abstraction Model using structure and relationships, not execution order Apply conservation laws, feedback, and hierarchy across domains Build models that scale, adapt, and reveal emergent behavior Use models as tools for reasoning and decision-making—not just simulation

Who This Book Is For This book is for readers who work with complex technical or socio-technical systems and want a deeper, more rigorous way to reason about them.

You may be:

An engineer working with physical, energy, or cyber-physical systems A researcher or educator modeling dynamic processes A systems architect or technical decision-maker evaluating design trade-offs A practitioner using models, simulations, or quantitative analysis to support decisions

No prior Modelica experience is required. Familiarity with basic mathematics, equations, or modeling concepts is helpful.
Subjects

*Applied Mathematics
*Mathematics > Calculus and Analysis > Differential Equations