This invaluable textbook/reference provides a hands-on guide to the application of good software development practices to the construction of distributed simulation systems, with a particular focus on High Level Architecture (HLA). Emphasizing a learning-by-doing approach supported by examples, the text offers practical advice on real-world development issues for all engineers and programmers entering the field. Topics and features: Explains how to rapidly develop an HLA federation, offering an implemented sample for each service area of the HLA federate interface specification Describes this implementation using the freely available software tools SimGe and RACoN Provides numerous step-by-step examples, code snippets, and case studies, as well as links to downloadable sample source code Uses the Microsoft .NET platform and the C# programming language in all examples and case studies Includes review questions throughout the book for further study Examines not only federate application development, but also object model construction Discusses the employment of HLA in multi-agent simulations Providing an accessible introduction and all-in-one resource for HLA-based distributed simulation development, this book is an essential guide for students and practitioners training in distributed simulation and distributed interactive simulation. Dr. Okan Topçu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at the Middle East Technical University (METU) Northern Cyprus Campus. Dr. Halit Oğuztüzün is a Professor at METU, Ankara, Turkey. Other publications by Dr. Topçu and Dr. Oğuztüzün include the Springer title Distributed Simulation: A Model Driven Engineering Approach.