LINE is an open-source software package to analyze queueing models via analytical methods or simulation. The package is developed by the QORE lab at Imperial College London and distributed under the BSD-3 license.
The package offers solution algorithms for queueing systems (e.g., M/M/1, M/M/k, M/G/1, ...), queueing networks, layered queueing networks, and queueing models in random environments. Models are solved in LINE either natively or via external solvers, such as JMT, LQNS, MAMSolver, Q-MAM, SMCSolver, and BuTools. Visit the LINE website for more information.
| Version | Folder | Requirements | Maturity | Manual | API Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATLAB | matlab/ | MATLAB | Stable | Doxygen | |
| Java/Kotlin | jar/ | Java SE 8+ | Stable | Javadoc | |
| Python Wrapper | python-wrapper/ | Python 3.11+, Java SE 8+ | Stable | Sphinx | |
| Python Native | python/ | Python 3.11+ | Stable | Sphinx |
The Python Wrapper interfaces with the Java/Kotlin JAR via JPype, allowing Python users to leverage the faster, more mature, JAR-based solvers while using Python syntax. The JAR implementation offers better performance than the native Python version for large-scale and layered models.
The line-cli.py script provides a standalone command-line interface for solving queueing network models without writing code. It wraps the Java/Kotlin JAR and supports multiple solvers, input formats (Java Modelling Tools's JSIMG format; LQNS's LQNX format), and output formats (table, JSON, CSV). Run
python line-cli.py solve example.jsimg --solver mva
to solve a model,
python line-cli.py list solvers
to see available solvers, or
python line-cli.py info
for command line options and features. The script can also start WebSocket or REST API servers for integration with other tools.
LINE is available as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, enabling LLM tools such as Claude Code and Claude Desktop to build and solve queueing models through natural language. With MCP, users can analyze queues, sweep parameters, compare solvers, and visualize networks without writing any code.
Install from PyPI:
pip install line-solver
Then configure your MCP client to use line-solver as a server, see the MCP Getting Started Guide for setup instructions and usage examples.
LINE is released under the BSD-3 license.
LINE has been partially funded by the European Commission grants FP7-318484 (MODAClouds), H2020-644869 (DICE), H2020-825040 (RADON), and by the EPSRC grant EP/M009211/1 (OptiMAM).