Comparison of agent-based modeling software


In the last few years, the agent-based modeling 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. Below is a chart intended to capture many of the features that are important to ABM toolkit users.

Comparison of ABM Software

PlatformPrimary DomainSupporting OrganizationLicenseProgramming LanguageOperating SystemUser SupportGIS Capabilities3D CapabilitiesLast Update
Altreva 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 No programming skills required. An adaptive form of genetic programming is used to create trading rules. User can select functions to be used in the genetic programming engine.WindowsFAQ, documentation, tutorial, examples, forum, email support Up to 3 agent properties can be visualized in real-time using 2D graphics and color
AnyLogicAgent-based general purpose; also supports discrete event and system dynamics simulations.The AnyLogic Company; Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, USAProprietary; Free Personal Learning Edition availableJavaCross-platformDemos; training; online community; ask a question; online help; tutorials; consulting services: supports both tile maps from free online providers and shapefile-based maps
CougaarMulti-agent systems; highly distributed, scalable, reliable, survivable applications; Domain independent; large scale distributed, complex, data intensive Cougaar Software Inc.; Vienna, Virginia, USA].Cougaar Open Source License is a modified version of the OSI approved BSD LicenseJavaLinux, macOS, WindowsFAQ; tutorials; slide shows; documentation; selected references; email support; public forums; mailing lists Integrated with OpenMap
Framsticks2D/3D simulations of multi-agent systems and artificial lifePoznan University of Technology, Poznan, PolandDepends on module: GPL/LGPL/PropertiaryFramScript Cross-platformEmail developer; tutorials; manual; FAQ; forums; API; documentation; selected publications; examples
JADEDistributed applications composed of autonomous entitiesTelecom Italia; Torino & Parma, ItalyLGPL version 2JavaCross-platformFAQ; mailing list; defect list; tutorials; API; documentation
MASONGeneral purpose; social complexity, physical modeling, abstract modeling, AI/machine learningGeorge Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USAAcademic Free License JavaCross-platformMailing list; documentation; Tutorials; third party extensions; reference papers; API
NetLogoSocial 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 lists
RepastSocial sciencesArgonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago; Lemont, Illinois, USABSDJava ; Python ; Visual Basic,.Net, C++, J#, C# Cross-platformDocumentation; mailing list; defect list; reference papers; external tools; tutorials; FAQ; examples
SARLDistributed applications composed of autonomous entities* Stéphane Galland, Burgundy Franche-Comté University, France;
* Nicolas Gaud, Burgundy Franche-Comté University, France,
* Sebastian Rodriguez, Advanced Informatics Technology Research Group, Tucuman, Argentina		Apache version 2SARL, JavaCross-platformFAQ; mailing list; bug tracker; tutorials; API; documentation By using Java extension libraries, e.g. . By using Java extension libraries, e.g. Java 3D.
SoarGeneral purpose AI; human performance modeling; 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; wiki
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 – Clearthought Software License, Version 1.0StarLogo Cross-platformMailing list; tutorials; FAQ; bug list; documentation; developer contacts
SwarmGeneral purpose agent basedSwarm Development GroupGPLJava; Objective-CCross-platformWiki; tutorials; examples; documentation; FAQ; selected publications; mailing lists