https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator
The NEST simulator
https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator
cpp nest nest-simulator neurons point-neurons python simulation-toolkit simulator
Last synced: 6 months ago
JSON representation
The NEST simulator
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator
- Owner: nest
- License: gpl-2.0
- Created: 2015-04-14T13:39:12.000Z (over 10 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2025-04-22T11:56:49.000Z (7 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-22T12:59:31.766Z (7 months ago)
- Topics: cpp, nest, nest-simulator, neurons, point-neurons, python, simulation-toolkit, simulator
- Language: C++
- Homepage: http://www.nest-simulator.org
- Size: 194 MB
- Stars: 566
- Watchers: 31
- Forks: 375
- Open Issues: 209
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGES
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
- Security: SECURITY.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# The Neural Simulation Tool - NEST
[](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation)
[](https://bestpractices.coreinfrastructure.org/projects/2218)
[](https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/nest/nest-simulator)
[](http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html)
[](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10834751)
[](https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator/releases)
[](https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator)
[](https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator)
[-blue?logo=debian)](https://nest-simulator.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation/)
[](https://src.fedoraproject.org/rpms/nest)
[](https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/nest-simulator)
[](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/nest)
[](https://hub.docker.com/r/nest/nest-simulator)
[](https://nest-simulator.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation/livemedia.html#live-media)
[](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nest-simulator+neurons)
[](https://twitter.com/nestsimulator)
NEST is a simulator for spiking neural network models that focuses on the
dynamics, size and structure of neural systems rather than on the exact
morphology of individual neurons.
A NEST simulation tries to follow the logic of an electrophysiological
experiment that takes place inside a computer with the difference that the
neural system to be investigated must be defined by the experimenter.
NEST is ideal for networks of spiking neurons of any size, for example:
- Models of information processing, e.g., in the visual or auditory cortex of
mammals,
- Models of network activity dynamics, e.g., laminar cortical networks or
balanced random networks,
- Models of learning and plasticity.
## Key features of NEST
* NEST provides a Python interface or a stand-alone application
* NEST provides a large collection of [neurons and synapse models](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation/models/index.html)
* NEST provides numerous [example network scripts](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation/examples/index.html) along with
[tutorials and guides](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation/get-started_index.html) to help you develop your simulation
* NEST has a large community of experienced developers and users; NEST was first released in 1994 under the name SYNOD, and has been extended and improved ever since
* NEST is extensible: you can extend NEST by adding your own modules
* NEST is scalable: Use NEST on your laptop or the largest supercomputers
* NEST is memory efficient: It makes the best use of your multi-core computer and compute clusters with minimal user intervention
* NEST is an open source project and is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2 or later
* NEST employs continuous integration workflows in order to maintain high code quality standards for correct and reproducible simulations
## Documentation
Please visit our [online documentation](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation) for details on installing and using NEST.
## Cite NEST
If you use NEST as part of your research, please cite the *version* of NEST you used.
The full citation for each release can be found on [Zenodo](https://zenodo.org/search?q=title%3ANEST%20AND%20-description%3Agraphical%20AND%20simulator&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=publication-desc)
For general citations, please use
`Gewaltig M-O & Diesmann M (2007) NEST (Neural Simulation Tool) Scholarpedia 2(4):1430.`
## Contact
If you need help or would like to discuss an idea or issue,
join our [maling list](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation/developer_space/guidelines/mailing_list_guidelines.html),
where we encourage active participation from our developers and users to share their knowledge and experience with NEST.
You can find other [ways to get in touch here](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation/community.html).
## Contribute
NEST is built on an active community and we welcome contributions to our code and documentation.
For bug reports, feature requests, documentation improvements, or other issues,
you can create a [GitHub issue](https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator/issues/new/choose),
For working with NEST code and documentation, you can find guidelines for contributions
[in our documentation](https://nest-simulator.org/documentation/developer_space/index.html#contribute-to-nest)
## Publications
You can find a list of NEST [related publications here](https://www.nest-simulator.org/publications/).
## License
NEST is open source software and is licensed under the [GNU General Public
License v2](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.en.html) or
later.
General information on the NEST Initiative can be found at
its homepage at https://www.nest-initiative.org.