At first, when we heard that DDD Perth was held in a stadium, we thought there was no way that could be true. Turns out it is. Well done, Perth! Once we learned the truth of the matter, we just had to come and check it out ourselves and share our zombie sock love. Yeah, we love zombies if the name didn't give it away. And we love our zombie sock merch. That, plus, our co-CEO Paul loves to hear himself talk and our other one, Demelza, loves a stage.Visit Patient Zero →
Back to 2025 Agenda
David Whebell
Python, SimPy and Espresso: Your First Steps into Practical Simulation Modelling
🕓 12:10 pm - 12:30 pm📍 Room 5 - Black Swan (Lv 2)Ever wondered why the line at your favourite coffee shop sometimes moves quickly and other times feel like it'll never end? In this beginner-friendly 20 minute session, you'll see a Python simulation that reveals exactly what happens when the morning rush hits a coffee shop - and how small changes can make a big difference.
Using SimPy, a pure-Python library for discrete-event simulation, we'll live code a "Coffee Shop morning Rush" model together. You'll see customers arrive, baristas prepare drinks and discover how changing just one variable can transform a frustrating queue into an efficient operation. No simulation experience or advanced mathematics required - just basic Python knowledge and a curiosity about how things work.
What you'll learn:
When simulation beats spreadsheets for answering 'What if?" business questions.
The core SimPy concepts (Environment, Process, Resource, Event) explained in everyday coffee shop terms.
Step-by-step creatoin of a working simulation with visualisation of wait times and queue lengths.
How to transform your static model into a dynamic tool that can process real-time order data.
Real-world application: how the same principles apply to modelling other industries.
You'll leave with complete GitHub code, a SimPy cheatsheet, and the confidence to model your own real-world systems- whether it's a taco truck, customer service desk, or complex service architecture.
David Whebell














