GridLAB-D can be built with either of two environments, MS Visual Studio 2005, or GNU tools like gcc and make (typically on Linux).
The basic strucutre of GridLAB-D centers around a core module that manages each of the runtime modules (e.g., residential, powerflow). Runtime modules are only loaded when the model being processed calls for them.
The solver sequences the updates of objects in each module based on the ranks established when the model is loaded. Objects of increasing rank are updated earlier during top-down passes, and later during bottom-up passes. The ranks are determined by the parent-child hierarchy defined in the model. The ranking and synchronization process is controlled by the exec module.
In principle the core is model agnostic. All the modeling specifics are managed by the runtime modules. This principle should be maintained as much as possible, if not absolutely. Although GridLAB is mainly intended for use as a power system simulation that includes end-use behavior, it can very well be used for any type of agent-based simulation that is similar in character, i.e., object have a well-defined hierarchy of implicit updates, a very well-defined but limited set interactions between objects, and a very high degree of implicit parallelism in the solution methods used.
Please see Background and other related pages for more information.