Comparison of agent-based modeling software

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In the last few years, the agent-based modeling (ABM) community has developed several practical agent based modeling toolkits that enable individuals to develop agent-based applications. More and more such toolkits are coming into existence, and each toolkit has a variety of characteristics. Several individuals have made attempts to compare toolkits to each other (see references). Below is a chart intended to capture many of the features that are important to ABM toolkit users.

Comparison of ABM Software

Agent Based Modeling Toolkit Comparison
PlatformPrimary DomainSupporting OrganizationLicenseProgramming LanguageOperating SystemUser Support GIS Capabilities3D CapabilitiesLast Update
Adaptive Modeler Building agent-based market simulation models for price forecasting of real-world stocks and other securitiesAltreva; Utrecht, NetherlandsProprietary; free evaluation version available for research and experimentation (some limitations but no expiration)No programming skills required. An adaptive form of genetic programming is used to create trading rules. Users can select functions to be used in the genetic programming engine.WindowsFAQ, documentation, tutorial, examples, forum, email supportUn­knownYes Up to 3 agent properties can be visualized in real-time using 2D graphics and colorJuly 20, 2020 (Version 1.6.0) [1]
AnyLogic Agent-based general purpose; also supports discrete event and system dynamics simulations.The AnyLogic Company; Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, USAProprietary; Free Personal Learning Edition availableJavaLinux, macOS, WindowsDemos; training; online community; ask a question; online help; tutorials; consulting servicesYes: supports both tile maps from free online providers and shapefile-based mapsYesSeptember 24, 2021 [2] [3]
Framsticks 2D/3D simulations of (evolving) multi-agent systems and artificial lifePoznan University of Technology, Poznan, PolandDepends on module: GPL/LGPL/ProprietaryFramScript (similar to JavaScript)Cross-platformEmail developer; tutorials; manual; FAQ; forums; API; documentation; selected publications; examplesYesYesJuly 14, 2015 [4]
GAMA Platform Modeling and simulation development environment for building spatially explicit agent-based simulations.IRD/SU international research unit UMMISCO, FranceGPL v3.0GAML (GAma Modeling Language) for simulations, Java for extensionsWindows; Linux; *nix; Mac OS Xtutorials; manual; FAQ; forums; documentation; selected publications; examplesYesYesApril 15, 2023;12 months ago (version 1.9.1) [5]
MASON General purpose; social complexity, physical modeling, abstract modeling, AI/machine learningGeorge Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USAAcademic Free License (open source)JavaCross-platformMailing list; documentation; Tutorials; third party extensions; reference papers; APIYesYesSeptember 3, 2019 (Version 20) [6]
NetLogo Social and natural sciences; Help beginning users get started authoring modelsNorthwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USAGPLNetLogoCross-platformDocumentation; FAQ; selected references; tutorials; third party extensions; defect list; mailing listsYesYesSeptember 29, 2022 (Version 6.3.0) [7]
Repast Social sciencesArgonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago; Lemont, Illinois, USABSDJava (RepastS, RepastJ); Python (Repast4Py); Visual Basic, .Net, C++, J#, C# (Repast.net)Cross-platformDocumentation; mailing list; defect list; reference papers; external tools; tutorials; FAQ; examplesYesYesDecember 22, 2022 (Version 2.10.0) [8]
Soar General purpose AI; human performance modeling; learning (including explanation-based learning)John E. Laird, Clare Bates Congdon, Mazin Assanie, Nate Derbinsky and Joseph Xu; Division of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USABSDSoar 1 to 5 in Lisp; Soar 6 in C; Java, C++, TCLCross-platformDocumentation; FAQ; selected publications; defect list; third party extensions; mailing list; contact authors; tutorial; examples; wikiUn­knownUn­knownJuly 28, 2017 (Version 9.6.0) [9]
StarLogo Social and natural sciences; Educators; for students to model the behavior of decentralized systems; user friendly for K–12 studentsMitchel Resnick, Eric Klopfer, and others at MIT Media Lab and The MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA, USAFree (closed source) – Clearthought Software License, Version 1.0StarLogo (an extension of Logo)Cross-platformMailing list; tutorials; FAQ; bug list; documentation; developer contactsUn­knownUn­knownNovember 27, 2018 [10]
Swarm General purpose agent basedSwarm Development GroupGPLJava; Objective-CCross-platformWiki; tutorials; examples; documentation; FAQ; selected publications; mailing listsUn­knownUn­known2005 [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Altreva - Stock market forecasting software using agent-based market simulation models". www.altreva.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  2. ↑ (Version 8.7.7) "AnyLogic latest version - 8.7.7". www.anylogic.com. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Anylogic changes history". Anylogic. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  4. ↑ History framsticks.com
  5. ↑ "Releases · gama-platform/Gama". GitHub .
  6. ↑ "Releases · eclab/Mason". GitHub .
  7. ↑ "Releases · NetLogo/NetLogo". GitHub .
  8. ↑ "Releases · Repast/Repast.simphony". GitHub .
  9. ↑ "Releases · SoarGroup/Soar". GitHub .
  10. ↑ "Welcome".
  11. ↑ "Swarm:Stable release - Swarm".
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