diff --git a/examples/compound_job_simulator/simulator.py b/examples/compound_job_simulator/simulator.py
index 59ac4df..1cafc88 100755
--- a/examples/compound_job_simulator/simulator.py
+++ b/examples/compound_job_simulator/simulator.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
         simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
         # Starting the simulation, with this simulated process running on the host ControllerHost
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+            xml_string = platform_file.read()
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
 
         hosts = simulation.get_all_hostnames()
         print(f"Hosts in the platform are: {hosts}")
@@ -142,12 +144,12 @@
 
         print("Synchronously waiting for the next simulation event...")
         event = simulation.wait_for_next_event()
-        print(f"  - Event: {event}")
+        print(f"\t- Event: {event}")
         print(f"Time is {simulation.get_simulated_time()}")
 
         print("Synchronously waiting for the next simulation event...")
         event = simulation.wait_for_next_event()
-        print(f"  - Event: {event}")
+        print(f"\t- Event: {event}")
         print(f"Time is {simulation.get_simulated_time()}")
 
         # print("Synchronously waiting for the next simulation event...")
diff --git a/examples/json_workflow_simulator/simulator.py b/examples/json_workflow_simulator/simulator.py
index 61dbfa9..4f32761 100755
--- a/examples/json_workflow_simulator/simulator.py
+++ b/examples/json_workflow_simulator/simulator.py
@@ -116,13 +116,15 @@ def main():
         print(f"Starting the simulation using the XML platform file...")
         current_dir = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
         platform_file_path = pathlib.Path(current_dir / "one_host_and_several_clusters.xml")
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, user_host)
+        with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+            xml_string = platform_file.read()
+        simulation.start(xml_string, user_host)
 
         # Get the list of all hostnames in the platform
         print(f"Getting the list of all hostnames...")
         list_of_hostnames = simulation.get_all_hostnames()
 
-        if not "UserHost" in list_of_hostnames:
+        if "UserHost" not in list_of_hostnames:
             raise Exception("This simulator assumes that the XML platform files has a host with hostname UserHost that"
                             " has a disk mounted at '/'")
         list_of_hostnames.remove("UserHost")
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ def main():
             # Wait for next event
             event = simulation.wait_for_next_event()
             if event["event_type"] != "standard_job_completion":
-                print(f"  - Event: {event}")  # Should make sure it's a job completion
+                print(f"\t- Event: {event}")  # Should make sure it's a job completion
                 raise wrench.WRENCHException("Received an unexpected event")
             else:
                 completed_job = event["standard_job"]
diff --git a/examples/simple_simulator/simulator.py b/examples/simple_simulator/simulator.py
index f3bf6cb..9fd7748 100755
--- a/examples/simple_simulator/simulator.py
+++ b/examples/simple_simulator/simulator.py
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@
         simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
         # Starting the simulation, with this simulated process running on the host ControllerHost
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+            xml_string = platform_file.read()
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
 
         print(f"Simulation, time is {simulation.get_simulated_time()}")
 
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@
         print("Getting simulation events that have occurred while I slept...")
         events = simulation.get_events()
         for event in events:
-            print(f"  - Event: {event}")
+            print(f"\t- Event: {event}")
 
         print("Creating another task")
         task2 = workflow.add_task("task2", 100.0, 1, 1, 0)
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@
 
         print("Creating a VM on the cloud compute service...")
         my_vm = ccs.create_vm(1, 100,
-                              {"CloudComputeServiceProperty::VM_BOOT_OVERHEAD": "5s"},{})
+                              {"CloudComputeServiceProperty::VM_BOOT_OVERHEAD": "5s"}, {})
 
         print("Starting the VM...")
         vm_cs = my_vm.start()
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@
 
         print("Synchronously waiting for the next simulation event...")
         event = simulation.wait_for_next_event()
-        print(f"  - Event: {event}")
+        print(f"\t- Event: {event}")
 
         print(f"Time is {simulation.get_simulated_time()}")
 
@@ -158,7 +160,6 @@
         # if (my_sleep_action_1.get_state_as_string() == "RUNNING"):
         #    print("Action is still running!")
 
-
         print("Terminating simulation")
 
         simulation.terminate()
diff --git a/tests/bare_metal_compute_service_test.py b/tests/bare_metal_compute_service_test.py
index dfb36ae..0fd49ec 100755
--- a/tests/bare_metal_compute_service_test.py
+++ b/tests/bare_metal_compute_service_test.py
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         sys.stderr.write(f"Error: {e}\n")
         exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/batch_compute_service_test.py b/tests/batch_compute_service_test.py
index de15cd1..297db53 100755
--- a/tests/batch_compute_service_test.py
+++ b/tests/batch_compute_service_test.py
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@
     platform_file_path = pathlib.Path(current_dir / "sample_platform.xml")
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         sys.stderr.write(f"Error: {e}\n")
         exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/cloud_compute_service_test.py b/tests/cloud_compute_service_test.py
index 4ee36f5..49cd1c8 100755
--- a/tests/cloud_compute_service_test.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_compute_service_test.py
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@
     platform_file_path = pathlib.Path(current_dir / "sample_platform.xml")
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         sys.stderr.write(f"Error: {e}\n")
         exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/compound_job_test.py b/tests/compound_job_test.py
index 4e4ddf1..3f40a6f 100755
--- a/tests/compound_job_test.py
+++ b/tests/compound_job_test.py
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
     # Starting the simulation, with this simulated process running on the host ControllerHost
-    simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
+    simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
 
     # Creating a  compute services
     bmcs = simulation.create_bare_metal_compute_service(
diff --git a/tests/file_registry_service_test.py b/tests/file_registry_service_test.py
index 4b3a0d1..d617300 100755
--- a/tests/file_registry_service_test.py
+++ b/tests/file_registry_service_test.py
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         sys.stderr.write(f"Error: {e}\n")
         exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/simulation_events_test.py_DISABLED b/tests/simulation_events_test.py_DISABLED
index eb316f8..97bf08d 100755
--- a/tests/simulation_events_test.py_DISABLED
+++ b/tests/simulation_events_test.py_DISABLED
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     platform_file_path = pathlib.Path(current_dir / "sample_platform.xml")
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
 
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         sys.stderr.write(f"Error: {e}\n")
         exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/storage_service_test.py b/tests/storage_service_test.py
index 5fc7fa4..c670724 100755
--- a/tests/storage_service_test.py
+++ b/tests/storage_service_test.py
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
-    simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
+    simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
 
     ss = simulation.create_simple_storage_service("StorageHost", ["/"])
     # Coverage
diff --git a/tests/workflow_job_task_test.py b/tests/workflow_job_task_test.py
index 5153e08..e336b39 100755
--- a/tests/workflow_job_task_test.py
+++ b/tests/workflow_job_task_test.py
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@
     platform_file_path = pathlib.Path(current_dir / "sample_platform.xml")
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         sys.stderr.write(f"Error: {e}\n")
         exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/workflow_test.py b/tests/workflow_test.py
index d2fe8b3..78a7e8d 100755
--- a/tests/workflow_test.py
+++ b/tests/workflow_test.py
@@ -22,23 +22,27 @@
 
     simulation = wrench.Simulation()
 
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        bogus_xml_string = platform_file.read() + "BOGUS"
     try:
         simulation_bogus = wrench.Simulation()
-        simulation_bogus.start(pathlib.Path("bogus/path/to/file"), "ControllerHost")
-        raise wrench.WRENCHException("Should be able to start a simulation with a bogus xml file")
+        simulation_bogus.start(bogus_xml_string, "ControllerHost")
+        raise wrench.WRENCHException("Should be able to start a simulation with a bogus xml")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         pass
 
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
         simulation_bogus = wrench.Simulation()
-        simulation_bogus.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost_BOGUS")
+        simulation_bogus.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost_BOGUS")
         raise wrench.WRENCHException("Should be able to start a simulation with a bogus xml file")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         pass
 
-    simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+    simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
     # Bogus restart that does nothing
-    simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+    simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
 
     workflow1 = simulation.create_workflow()
     file1 = simulation.add_file("file1", 1024)
@@ -97,8 +101,10 @@
 
     simulation.terminate()
 
+    with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
+        xml_string = platform_file.read()
     try:
-        simulation.start(platform_file_path, "ControllerHost")
+        simulation.start(xml_string, "ControllerHost")
         raise wrench.WRENCHException("Shouldn't be able to restart a simulation")
     except wrench.WRENCHException as e:
         pass
diff --git a/wrench/compound_job.py b/wrench/compound_job.py
index 9b68c71..f7d1566 100644
--- a/wrench/compound_job.py
+++ b/wrench/compound_job.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def add_file_write_action(self, name: str, file: File, storage_service: StorageS
         return self._simulation._add_file_write_action(self, name, file, storage_service)
 
     def add_file_read_action(self, name: str, file: File, storage_service: StorageService,
-                             num_bytes_to_read=-1.0) -> FileReadAction:
+                             num_bytes_to_read=0.0) -> FileReadAction:
         """
         Add a file write action to the compound job
 
diff --git a/wrench/simulation.py b/wrench/simulation.py
index 1bb9d02..3183278 100644
--- a/wrench/simulation.py
+++ b/wrench/simulation.py
@@ -84,19 +84,19 @@ def __send_request_to_daemon(requests_method, route, json_data):
             r = requests_method(route, json=json_data)
             return r
         except Exception as e:  # pragma no cover
-            raise WRENCHException("Connection to wrench-daemon severed: " + str(e) + "\n"
-                                                                                     "This could be an error on the "
-                                                                                     "wrench-daemon side (likely an uncaught maestro exception, e.g., a deadlock). Enable "
-                                                                                     "logging with the --simulation-logging and --daemon-logging "
-                                                                                     "command-line arguments")
+            raise WRENCHException("Connection to wrench-daemon severed: " +
+                                  str(e) + "\n"
+                                           "This could be an error on the "
+                                           "wrench-daemon side (likely an uncaught maestro exception, e.g., a deadlock). Enable "
+                                           "logging with the --simulation-logging and --daemon-logging "
+                                           "command-line arguments")
 
-    def start(self, platform_file_path: pathlib.Path,
-              controller_hostname: str) -> None:
+    def start(self, platform_xml: str, controller_hostname: str) -> None:
         """
         Start a new simulation (will do nothing if simulation has already started)
 
-        :param platform_file_path: path of a file that contains the simulated platform's description in XML
-        :type platform_file_path: pathlib.Path
+        :param platform_xml: platform description string in XML
+        :type platform_xml: str
         :param controller_hostname: the name of the (simulated) host in the platform on which the
                simulation controller will run
         :type controller_hostname: str
@@ -108,14 +108,7 @@ def start(self, platform_file_path: pathlib.Path,
             raise WRENCHException("This simulation has been terminated.")
 
         if not self.started:
-            # Read the platform XML
-            try:
-                with open(platform_file_path, "r") as platform_file:
-                    xml = platform_file.read()
-            except Exception as e:
-                raise WRENCHException(f"Cannot read platform file '{platform_file_path.absolute().name}' ({str(e)})")
-
-            self.spec = {"platform_xml": xml, "controller_hostname": controller_hostname}
+            self.spec = {"platform_xml": platform_xml, "controller_hostname": controller_hostname}
             try:
                 r = requests.post(f"{self.daemon_url}/startSimulation", json=self.spec)
             except Exception:  # pragma: no cover
@@ -1627,8 +1620,7 @@ def _add_entry_to_file_registry_service(self, file_registry_service: FileRegistr
             raise WRENCHException(response["failure_cause"])
         return
 
-    def _lookup_entry_in_file_registry_service(self, file_registry_service: FileRegistryService, file: File) -> List[
-        StorageService]:
+    def _lookup_entry_in_file_registry_service(self, file_registry_service: FileRegistryService, file: File) -> List[StorageService]:
         """
         Blah
         :param file_registry_service:
diff --git a/wrench/workflow.py b/wrench/workflow.py
index 0694dba..bb4c62e 100644
--- a/wrench/workflow.py
+++ b/wrench/workflow.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 from typing import List
 
+
 # noinspection GrazieInspection
 class Workflow(SimulationItem):
     """