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