anylogicPLE-mcp

MCP server that generates AnyLogic simulation models from natural-language prompts in Claude Code.

Describe a queueing system, factory, or ER in plain language → get a .alp file that opens and runs in AnyLogic PLE (the free edition). Models are validated automatically against PLE limits.

The goal of this project is to shorten the AnyLogic learning curve by giving you a working simulation model as a starting point. Run the simulation, observe the results, study how the model is built, and use it as a reference when building your next model from scratch.

Unlike most tools that focus on a single modeling approach, AnyLogic supports three paradigms in one environment — discrete event, agent-based, and system dynamics — covering virtually any industrial engineering problem you can think of, from factory floors to hospital ERs to supply chains. On top of that, the free PLE edition makes it accessible to anyone learning simulation, and the block-based Process Modeling Library maps naturally to code generation.

Disclaimer: This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by AnyLogic. AnyLogic is a trademark of The AnyLogic Company. Generated models are subject to AnyLogic PLE's terms of use.

---

Who is this for

If you are an industrial engineer, this tool lets you prototype a queuing or process model in natural language and have something running within minutes — skipping the initial friction of block wiring and XML quirks, and getting straight to the questions that matter: utilization rates, bottlenecks, throughput.

The current version handles discrete event / queueing models well. Resource-constrained models (shift schedules, breakdowns, Seize/Release blocks) are not yet supported — that is where contributions are most welcome. Whether you want to add new block types, new templates, or improve the XML generation, your input is genuinely valuable and very much encouraged.

---

What it looks like

You type this in Claude Code:

Create a 3-stage CNC job shop model "CNCJobShop":
- Jobs arrive every 15 minutes (exponential)
- Roughing: 2 machines, triangular(8,12,18) min
- Semi-finish: 1 machine, triangular(8,12,16) min
- Finishing: 1 machine, triangular(5,8,12) min
Give me the .alp file.

Claude calls the MCP tools, builds the .alp XML, saves the file to your output folder, and tells you which stage is the bottleneck. Open the file in AnyLogic PLE and click Run.

---

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• Claude Code (VS Code extension or CLI)
• AnyLogic PLE 8.9.8 — free, to open and run generated models

---

Install

1. Install the package

pip install -e .

Find the entry point path — you need it in the next step:

where anylogic-mcp       # Windows
which anylogic-mcp       # macOS / Linux

2. Create .mcp.json in your working directory

Create a file named .mcp.json in the folder you open in VS Code:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "anylogic": {
      "command": "/path/to/anylogic-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "ALP_OUTPUT_DIR": "/path/where/alp/files/are/saved"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windows: use double backslashes in JSON paths: "C:\\Users\\YourName\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Python312\\Scripts\\anylogic-mcp.exe"

See WINDOWS_SETUP.md for a full step-by-step walkthrough.

3. Reload VS Code

Ctrl+Shift+P → Developer: Reload Window → click Allow when prompted to approve the anylogic server.

Verify the connection:

What are the AnyLogic PLE limits?

---

MCP tools

Tool	What it does
anylogic_create_model_ple	Build and validate a model; returns a model ID
anylogic_download_for_ple	Write the .alp file to ALP_OUTPUT_DIR
anylogic_validate_ple	Re-check a stored model against PLE limits
anylogic_get_ple_limits	Return all PLE restrictions
anylogic_upload_to_cloud	Upload to AnyLogic Cloud (requires API key)

---

Built-in templates

Template	Entity	Default config	Traffic intensity ρ
warehouse	Truck	3 loading docks	0.75
simple_queue	Customer	1 server	0.60
factory	Part	2 machines in series (A→B)	0.83
hospital	Patient	triage + 3-doctor treatment	0.88

Custom models (any entity name, any block chain, any parameters) are fully supported. See EXAMPLES.md for prompts covering manufacturing, service systems, and healthcare.

---

Supported blocks

Block	params keys	Notes
Source	interarrivalTime	Always use exponential(1.0/mean) — AnyLogic treats this as a rate
Delay	capacity (string), delayTime	Time unit: minutes; capacity = number of parallel servers
Queue	—	Auto-inserted before every Delay; only specify explicitly if needed elsewhere
Sink	—

Critical gotcha: exponential(10) means 10 arrivals per minute, not one per 10 minutes. A warehouse with trucks arriving every 20 minutes needs exponential(1.0/20.0).

---

PLE limits (auto-enforced)

Limit	Value
Agent types	10
Blocks per agent	200
Dynamic agents	50,000
Simulation time	5 h (unlimited when using Process Modeling Library — all generated models use it)

---

Opening generated models

1. Launch AnyLogic PLE 8.9.8
2. File → Open → select the .alp file from ALP_OUTPUT_DIR
3. Click the green Run button

---

How the XML generation works

model_builder.py produces AnyLogic 8.9.8-compatible .alp XML. The block ItemNames (e.g. Source = 1412336242928, Queue = 1412336242932) were extracted from a ground-truth AnyLogic file — they must be exact or the model tree crashes on load.

Key invariants baked into the generator:

• A Queue is auto-inserted before every Delay to buffer when server capacity is full
• Queue capacity is set to 100,000 (default in AnyLogic is 100, which causes OOM on long runs)
• interarrivalTime is always emitted in rate form: exponential(1.0/mean) not exponential(mean)
• Parameter name is delayTime (not delay); time unit is MINUTE
• TimePlot chart lives inside Main/Presentation/Level/Presentation, not in SimulationExperiment

---

Project structure

├── src/anylogic_mcp/
│   ├── server.py          # MCP server and tool handlers
│   ├── model_builder.py   # .alp XML generator (core logic)
│   ├── ple_validator.py   # PLE limit checker
│   └── cloud_client.py    # AnyLogic Cloud upload (optional)
├── tests/
│   ├── test_model_builder.py   # XML structure, parameters, chart correctness
│   └── test_ple_validator.py   # PLE limit enforcement
└── pyproject.toml

Run the tests:

# Windows
set PYTHONPATH=src && python -m pytest tests/ -v

# macOS / Linux
PYTHONPATH=src pytest tests/ -v

---

Contributing

Pull requests are welcome. The most useful additions:

• New block types — Service, Seize/Release/ResourcePool for resource-constrained models. The ItemNames are already in _ITEM_NAMES in model_builder.py; what's needed is the parameter XML and connector wiring.
• New templates — supply chain, logistics, pedestrian flow.
• Fluid Library support — bulk/continuous flow (tanks, pipes) requires a different XML structure; the block ItemNames would need to be extracted from a ground-truth Fluid model.
• Test coverage — every new block type needs XML invariant tests matching the pattern in test_model_builder.py.

---

Optional: AnyLogic Cloud upload

Set ANYLOGIC_API_KEY in the env block of .mcp.json:

"env": {
  "ALP_OUTPUT_DIR": "...",
  "ANYLOGIC_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
}

Get a key at: https://cloud.anylogic.com/settings/api-keys

---

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

---

Disclaimer

This project is not affiliated with or endorsed by AnyLogic. AnyLogic is a trademark of The AnyLogic Company. Generated models are subject to AnyLogic PLE's terms of use.