Talk:NEST (software)

Edit Request
I'd like to request several changes to the NEST (software) page to keep it up-to-date. NEST is a simulation software for spiking neural network models, including large-scale neuronal networks.

1. The image in the info box displays a very out-of-date screenshot of NEST. Request to remove this screenshot.

2. In Features, add missing model types (see models directory in www.github.com/nest/nest-simulator):

Under Neuron Models, add
 * Rate-based models
 * Precise models

Under Synapse Models, add
 * Synapse model for rate-based models
 * Gap Junction

Under Accuracy add (or update) the reference for the first bullet:

* NEST aims for high accuracy and precision of its simulation

3. Under Parallel and Distributed Computing- POSIX is no longer supported (see http://www.nest-simulator.org/parallel-computing/)

Remove first two bullet points and replace with NEST employs two methods for parallelization:
 * Thread-parallel simulation, which uses OpenMP and takes advantage of multicore and multiprocessor computers without the need for additional libraries.
 * Distributed simulation (or distributed computing), which uses the Message Passing Interface (MPI) and supports simulations over multiple computers.

4. Under Parallel and Distributed Computing

Supra-linear to linear scaling for up to 10000 cores.[11] is no longer accurate and the reference is out of date.

Request change to

Excellent scalability in terms of memory usage and good scalability in terms of runtime has been shown for up to 660,000 cores.

5. Under History

Add second sentence to the following bullet (POSIX is no longer supported).

* Since 2007, NEST supports hybrid parallelism, using POSIX threads and MPI.[11] Since Version 2.2, NEST replaced POSIX support with OpenMP.

Add the following points


 * In 2014, NEST simulated the largest simulation of a spiking neuronal network reported thus far. Using parameter set 2 with K = 6000 synapses per neuron and employing all 82,944 nodes of the K computer simultaneously in a single simulation with 8 cores each,  a maximum network size of 1.86 · 109 neurons and a total of 11.1 · 1012 synapses was reached.


 * In 2015, NEST moved to GitHub making the source code freely available under the GPLv2 license.

6. Under External Links

add link to http://www.nest-simulator.org

add link to GitHub repository https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator

Mitchell20j (talk) 14:46, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

Reply to edit request 07-NOV-2018
Below you will see where proposals from your request have been quoted with reviewer decisions and feedback inserted underneath, either accepting, declining or otherwise commenting upon your proposal(s). Please read the enclosed notes within the proposal review section below for information on each request.

Regards,  Spintendo   04:32, 8 November 2018 (UTC)
 * 1) Text which was found to be insufficiently paraphrased from the source material has been omitted. Text placed in the article ought to be in an editor's own words using an editor's own phrasing, per WP:CLOSEPARAPHRASE. A listing of the removed text may be found here.
 * 2) A Citation needed inline template was appended to the last section of text, where a See also reference was incorrectly placed in the article and removed, per MOS:LAYOUTEL.
 * 3) The External links section was moved to follow the References section, per MOS:SECTIONORDER.