Skip to content

Commit

Permalink
Update README.md
Browse files Browse the repository at this point in the history
  • Loading branch information
JamesPHoughton committed Jun 29, 2015
1 parent 963f742 commit 559cbef
Showing 1 changed file with 4 additions and 6 deletions.
10 changes: 4 additions & 6 deletions README.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
PySD
====

System Dynamics Modeling in Python
Simulating System Dynamics Models in Python

This project is a simple library for running [System Dynamics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_dynamics) models in python, with the purpose of improving integration of *Big Data* and *Machine Learning* into the SD workflow.

Expand All @@ -23,12 +23,10 @@ If you use PySD in any published work, consider citing the [PySD Introductory Pa
>Houghton, James; Siegel, Michael. "Advanced data analytics for system dynamics models using PySD." *Proceedings of the 33rd International Conference of the System Dynamics Society.* 2015.

### Why create a new SD simulation engine?

There are a number of great SD programs out there ([Vensim](http://vensim.com/), [iThink](http://www.iseesystems.com/Softwares/Business/ithinkSoftware.aspx), [AnyLogic](http://www.anylogic.com/system-dynamics), [Insight Maker](http://insightmaker.com/), and [others](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_system_dynamics_software)). In order not to waste our effort, or fall victim to the [Not-Invented-Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_here) fallacy, we should have a very good reason for starting a new project.

### Why create a new SD modeling engine?

There are a number of great SD programs out there ([Vensim](http://vensim.com/), [iThink](http://www.iseesystems.com/Softwares/Business/ithinkSoftware.aspx), [AnyLogic](http://www.anylogic.com/system-dynamics), [Insight Maker](http://insightmaker.com/), [Forio](http://forio.com/), and [others](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_system_dynamics_software)). Additionally, there are a number of existing python-based dynamic system modeling tools, such as [PyDSTool](http://www.ni.gsu.edu/~rclewley/PyDSTool/FrontPage.html) and [others](http://www.scipy.org/topical-software.html#dynamical-systems). In order not to waste our effort, or fall victim to the [Not-Invented-Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_invented_here) fallacy, we should have a very good reason for starting a new project.

That reason is this: There is a whole world of computational tools being developed in the larger technical community. **We should directly use the tools that other people are building, instead of replicating their functionality in SD specific software.** The best way to do this is to bring specific SD functionality to the domain where those other tools are being developed.
That reason is this: There is a whole world of computational tools being developed in the larger data science community. **System dynamicists should directly use the tools that other people are building, instead of replicating their functionality in SD specific software.** The best way to do this is to bring specific SD functionality to the domain where those other tools are being developed.

This approach allows SD modelers to take advantage of the most recent developments in data science, and focus our efforts on improving the part of the stack that is unique to System Dynamics modeling.

0 comments on commit 559cbef

Please sign in to comment.