NESTML 8.1.0

NESTML 8.1.0 contains several fixes, improvements in language syntax, enhancements in user experience, and documentation updates. For further information, please visit https://github.com/nest/nestml.

Most notably, version 8.1.0 adds support for GeNN code generation (#1207).

NESTML 8.0.2

NESTML 8.0.2 contains several fixes and improvements to the toolchain, as well as documentation updates.

The most important updates are:

• Adapt to ODE-toolbox API change (#1216). This restores compatibility with the latest ODE-toolbox release at time of writing (v2.5.9).
• Fix SpiNNaker code generator (#1203)
• Fix printing of numeric literals with units (#1202)

NESTML 8.0.1

NESTML 8.0.1 contains many fixes, improvements in language syntax, enhancements in user experience, and documentation updates.

The most important updates are:

• Add option to limit number of compiler processes to prevent running out of memory on machines with lots of cores (#1177)
• Make distinction between which models are neurons and which are synapses more clear (#1171)
• A bug in synapse trace calculation was fixed (#1183)
• Fixed support for saturating-type equations in synapse models (#1172)
• Docstrings were changed into using single-line comment characters (#1169)

Note that due to #1169, the syntax of models should be changed from using triple-quotes ("""...""") to single-line comments (# ...).

NESTML 8.0.0

NESTML 8.0.0 contains simplifications in the language syntax and a more unambiguous definition of the semantics of language elements. It includes many improvements in documentation, bug fixes, as well as new tutorials.

• Neuron and synapse models were combined into just "models". This means that the top-level keywords neuron and synapse should be replaced by model. In order to distinguish which is which, the model names should either end in the suffixes _neuron and _synapse, or alternatively, be passed in a list of neuron_models and synapse_models in the NEST code generator options (see https://nestml.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pynestml.codegeneration.html#pynestml.codegeneration.nest_code_generator.NESTCodeGenerator).
• The deliver_spike() built-in function was replaced by emit_spike(), which is now used both by neuron and synapse.
• Add explicit output parameters to spiking output ports: if emit_spike(foo, bar) is called, then the spiking output port should be parameterised by two parameters with types equal to (or castable to) those of foo and bar. (#1124)
• Synapse models should also call integrate_odes() explicitly in the update block if ODEs are defined in the synapse model.
• Variables corresponding to synaptic weight and delay should now be specified as code generator options rather than @nest::name annotations in the synapse model itself (#1044)
• NEST Desktop is added as a new target platform (#802)
• Improved third-factory plasticity using a more efficient spike-based buffer (#1078)
• Add predefined timestep() function (#1100)
• A new "pretty" code rendering feature (#1081)
• Small improvements in use interface and error reporting (#1098, #1086)
• Fix for STDP buffer logic (#1061, #1089)
• Fix for spike threshold check in aeif models (#1096)
• Compartmental neuron model vectorisation for improved runtime performance (#989)
• integrate_odes() automatically integrates the dynamics for higher-order ODEs (#1139, #1147)
• Added Bouhadjar sequence learning network tutorial (#1026)
• Minimum Python version requirement is now 3.9 (#1138)

NESTML 7.0.2

NESTML 7.0.2 contains a fix for NEST Simulator 3.7 compatibility (#1021).

NESTML 7.0.1

NESTML 7.0.1 contains improvements in documentation and support for the extension modules unloading system introduced in NEST 3.7 (nest/nest-simulator#3103).

NESTML 7.0.0

NESTML 7.0.0 contains many fixes, improvements in language syntax, enhancements in user experience, and documentation updates.

• Add support for compartmental neurons (#872)
• Add gap junction support (#907)

NESTML 6.0.0

NESTML 6.0.0 contains many fixes, improvements in language syntax, enhancements in user experience, and documentation updates.

• Add support for the SpiNNaker neuromorphic simulation platform (#925)
• Clarify semantics of internal parameters and inline expressions (#953)
• Fix STDP synapse bug (#843)
• Remove units from spiking input ports (#882)
• Add support for forward Euler integrator (#940)
• Add new "ignore and fire" model (#934)
• Add ceil, floor and round functions (#929)

NESTML 5.3.0

NESTML 5.3.0 contains many fixes, improvements in language syntax, enhancements in user experience, and documentation updates.

• Remove end keyword from NESTML models (#866, #893)
• Add erf() and erfc() to predefined maths functions (#889)
• Redirect stdout and stderr in the building phase (#741)

NESTML 5.2.0

NESTML 5.2.0 contains many fixes, enhancements in user experience, and documentation updates.

• Add support for NEST 3.4
• Support vector input ports in differential equations
• Made input ports more consistent in formulation and easier to use
• Allow solver selection of numeric vs. analytic solver in NEST code generator
• Compile NESTML generated code multithreaded
• Allow Node parameters and state variables to be assigned NEST probability distributions
• Add spike-frequency adaptation tutorial to the documentation