The TimeWarp class defines the data and methods that each simulation object needs to operate within the system. The user can define many different types of simulation objects, all of which will be derived from the TimeWarp class. In order for the kernel to be able to construct instances of the user-defined state, the TimeWarp class is templatized on the user's state class. For the example being developed, there is only one type of object, and one definition of state.