GENESIS

[Jim Bower]

               Software availability announcement
 
                           GENESIS 
             (GEneral NEural SImulation System)
                             and 
                            XODUS
    (X-windows Output and Display Utility for Simulations)
 
 This combined neural simulation system is now available for general
 distribution via FTP from Caltech.  The software was developed to support
 the simulation of neural systems ranging from complex models of single
 neurons to simulations of large networks made up of more abstract
 neuronal components.  For the last two years GENESIS has provided the
 basis for laboratory courses in neural simulation at both Caltech and the
 Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA.  Most current GENESIS
 applications involve realistic simulations of biological neural systems,
 however, it has also been used to model more abstract networks.  The
 system is not, however, a particularly efficient way to construct and run
 simple feedforward back propagation type simulations.  More information
 on the simulator and its interface can be obtained from an article by our
 group in last years NIPS proceedings.  (Wilson, M.A., Bhalla, U.S., Uhley,
 J.D., and Bower, J.M.  1989   GENESIS: A system for simulating neural 
 networks. In:  Advances in Neural information processing systems.  D.
 Touretzky, editor. Morgan Kaufmann, San Mateo, CA. 485-492. ).  The
 interface will also be the subject of an oral presentation at the upcoming
 USENIX meeting in Washington D.C. 
 
 GENESIS and XODUS are written in C and run on SUN and DEC graphics work
 stations under UNIX (version 4.0 and up), and X-windows (version 11).  The
 software requires 14 meg of disk space and the tar file is approximately 1
 meg.  Full source for the simulator is available via FTP from
 genesis.cns.caltech.edu (131.215.135.64).  To acquire FTP access to this
 machine it is necessary to first register for distribution by using telnet
 or rlogin to login under user "genesis" and then follow the instructions
 (e.g. 'telnet genesis.cns.caltech.edu' and ' login as 'genesis').  When
 necessary, tapes can be provided for a small handling fee ($50).  Those
 requiring tapes should send requests to genesis-req at caltech.bitnet.  Any
 other questions about the system or its distribution should also be sent to
 this address. 
 
 The current distribution includes full source for both GENESIS and XODUS
 as well as three tutorial simulations (squid axon, multicell, visual
 cortex).  Documentation for these tutorials as well as three papers
 describing the structure of the simulator are also included.  As described in
 more detail in the "readme" file at the FTP address, those interested in
 developing new GENESIS applications are encouraged to become registered
 members of the GENESIS users group (BABEL) for an additional one time
 $200 registration fee.  As a registered user, one is provided
 documentation on the simulator itself (currently in an early stage),
 access to additional simulator components, bug report listings, and access
 to a user's bulletin board.  In addition we are establishing a depository for
 additional completed simulations. 
 
 Finally, it should be noted that this software system, which currently
 consists of approximately 60,000 lines of code, and represents almost
 four years of programing effort, is being provided for general distribution
 as a public service to the neural network and computational neuroscience
 communities.  We make no claims as to the quality or functionality of this
 software for any purpose whatsoever and its release does not constitute a
 commitment on our part to provide support of any kind. 
 
 Jim Bower