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Comparison of agent-based modeling software

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 SupportGIS Capabilities3D CapabilitiesLast Update
Adaptive ModelerBuilding 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
AnyLogicAgent-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 mapsYesNovember 20, 202423
Framsticks2D/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, 20154
GAMA PlatformModeling and simulation development environment for building spatially explicit agent-based simulations.IRD/SU international research unit UMMISCO, FranceGNU GPL v3.0GAML (GAma Modeling Language) for simulations, Java for extensionsWindows; Linux; *nix; Mac OS Xtutorials; manual; FAQ; forums; documentation; selected publications; examplesYesYesApril 15, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-04-15) (version 1.9.1) 5
MASONGeneral purpose; social complexity, physical modeling, abstract modeling, AI/machine learningGeorge Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USAOpen source(Academic Free License)JavaCross-platformMailing list; documentation; Tutorials; third party extensions; reference papers; APIYesYesSeptember 3, 2019 (Version 20)6
NetLogoSocial and natural sciences; Help beginning users get started authoring modelsNorthwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USAGNU GPLNetLogoCross-platformDocumentation; FAQ; selected references; tutorials; third party extensions; defect list; mailing listsYesYesNovember 17, 2023 (Version 6.4.0) 7
RepastSocial and natural 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; examplesYesYesJuly 2, 2024 (Version 2.11.0) 8
SoarGeneral 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
StarLogoSocial 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
SwarmGeneral purpose agent basedSwarm Development GroupGNU GPLJava; Objective-CCross-platformWiki; tutorials; examples; documentation; FAQ; selected publications; mailing listsUn­knownUn­known2005 11

References

  1. "Altreva - Stock market forecasting software using agent-based market simulation models". www.altreva.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023. https://www.altreva.com/release_notes.html ↩

  2. (Version 8.7.7) "AnyLogic latest version - 8.9.3". www.anylogic.com. Retrieved 2 December 2024. https://www.anylogic.com/downloads/ ↩

  3. "AnyLogic 8.9.2 and 8.9.3: innovations that drive future progress". Retrieved 2 December 2024. https://www.anylogic.com/blog/anylogic-8-9-2-and-8-9-3-innovations-that-drive-future-progress/ ↩

  4. History framsticks.com http://www.framsticks.com/files/apps/history.xml ↩

  5. "Releases · gama-platform/Gama". GitHub. https://github.com/gama-platform/gama/releases ↩

  6. "Releases · eclab/Mason". GitHub. https://github.com/eclab/mason/releases ↩

  7. "Releases · NetLogo/NetLogo". GitHub. https://github.com/NetLogo/NetLogo/releases ↩

  8. "Releases · Repast/Repast.simphony". GitHub. https://github.com/Repast/repast.simphony/releases ↩

  9. "Releases · SoarGroup/Soar". GitHub. https://github.com/SoarGroup/Soar/releases ↩

  10. "Welcome". https://www.slnova.org/#info ↩

  11. "Swarm:Stable release - Swarm". http://www.swarm.org/wiki/Swarm:Stable_release ↩