1. Rochester Connectionist Simulator
   A quite versatile simulator program for arbitrary types of neural nets. Comes with a backprop package and a X11/Sunview interface. Available via anonymous FTP from cs.rochester.edu [192.5.53.209] in directory pub/simulator as the files README (8 KB), rcs_v4.2.justdoc.tar.Z (1.6 MB, Documentation), rcs_v4.2.justsrc.tar.Z (1.4 MB, Source code)
   
   
2. UCLA-SFINX
   ftp retina.cs.ucla.edu [131.179.16.6]; Login name: sfinxftp; Password: joshua; directory: pub; files : README; sfinx_v2.0.tar.Z; Email info request : sfinx@retina.cs.ucla.edu
   
   
3. NeurDS
   Simulator for DEC systems supporting VT100 terminal. available for anonymous ftp from gatekeeper.dec.com [16.1.0.2] in directory: pub/DEC as the file NeurDS031.tar.Z (111 Kb)
   
   
4. PlaNet5.7 (formerly known as SunNet)
   A popular connectionist simulator with versions to run under X Windows, and non-graphics terminals created by Yoshiro Miyata (Chukyo Univ., Japan). 60-page User's Guide in Postscript. Send any questions to miyata@sccs.chukyo-u.ac.jp Available for anonymous ftp from ftp.ira.uka.de as /pub/neuron/PlaNet5.7.tar.Z (800 kb) or from boulder.colorado.edu [128.138.240.1] as /pub/generic-sources/PlaNet5.7.tar.Z
   
   
5. GENESIS
   GENESIS 1.4.2 (GEneral NEural SImulation System) is a general purpose simulation platform which was developed to support the simulation of neural systems ranging from complex models of single neurons to simulations of large networks made up of more abstract neuronal components. Most current GENESIS applications involve realistic simulations of biological neural systems. Although the software can also model more abstract networks, other simulators are more suitable for backpropagation and similar connectionist modeling. Available for ftp with the following procedure: Use 'telnet' to genesis.bbb.caltech.edu and login as the user "genesis" (no password). If you answer all the questions, an 'ftp' account will automatically be created for you. You can then 'ftp' back to the machine and download the software (about 3 MB). Contact: genesis@cns.caltech.edu. Further information via WWW at http://www.bbb.caltech.edu/GENESIS/.
   
   
6. Mactivation (HQX format)
   A neural network simulator for the Apple Macintosh. Available for ftp from ftp.cs.colorado.edu [128.138.243.151] as /pub/cs/misc/Mactivation-3.3.sea.hqx
   
   
7. Cascade Correlation Simulator
   A simulator for Scott Fahlman's Cascade Correlation algorithm. Available for ftp from ftp.cs.cmu.edu [128.2.206.173] in directory /afs/cs/project/connect/code as the file cascor-v1.0.4.shar (218 KB). There is also a version of recurrent cascade correlation in the same directory in file rcc1.c (108 KB).
   
   
8. Quickprop
   A variation of the back-propagation algorithm developed by Scott Fahlman. A simulator is available in the same directory as the cascade correlation simulator above in file nevprop1.16.shar (137 KB) (see also the description of NEVPROP below)
   
   
9. DartNet (HQX format)
   DartNet is a Macintosh-based backpropagation simulator, developed at Dartmouth by Jamshed Bharucha and Sean Nolan as a pedagogical tool. It makes use of the Mac's graphical interface, and provides a number of tools for building, editing, training, testing and examining networks. This program is available by anonymous ftp from dartvax.dartmouth.edu [129.170.16.4] as /pub/mac/dartnet.sit.hqx (124 KB).
   
   
10. SNNS
    "Stuttgart Neural Network Simulator" from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. A luxurious simulator for many types of nets; with X11 interface: Graphical 2D and 3D topology editor/visualizer, training visualisation, multiple pattern set handling etc. Currently supports backpropagation (vanilla, online, with momentum term and flat spot elimination, batch, time delay), counterpropagation, quickprop, backpercolation 1, generalized radial basis functions (RBF), RProp, ART1, ART2, ARTMAP, Cascade Correlation, Recurrent Cascade Correlation, Dynamic LVQ, Backpropagation through time (for recurrent networks), batch backpropagation through time (for recurrent networks), Quickpropagation through time (for recurrent networks), Hopfield networks, Jordan and Elman networks, autoassociative memory, self-organizing maps, time-delay networks (TDNN), and is user-extendable (user-defined activation functions, output functions, site functions, learning procedures). Works on SunOS, Solaris, IRIX, Ultrix, AIX, HP/UX, and Linux. Available for ftp from ftp.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de [129.69.211.2] in directory /pub/SNNS as SNNSv3.2.tar.Z (2 MB, Source code) and SNNSv3.2.Manual.ps.Z (1.4 MB, Documentation). There are also various other files in this directory (e.g. the source version of the manual, a Sun Sparc executable, older versions of the software, some papers, and the software in several smaller parts). It may be best to first have a look at the file SNNSv3.2.Readme (10 kb). This file contains a somewhat more elaborate short description of the simulator.
    
    
11. Aspirin/MIGRAINES
    Aspirin/MIGRAINES 6.0 consists of a code generator that builds neural network simulations by reading a network description (written in a language called "Aspirin") and generates a C simulation. An interface (called "MIGRAINES") is provided to export data from the neural network to visualization tools. The system has been ported to a large number of platforms. The goal of Aspirin is to provide a common extendible front-end language and parser for different network paradigms. The MIGRAINES interface is a terminal based interface that allows you to open Unix pipes to data in the neural network. Users can display the data using either public or commercial graphics/analysis tools. Example filters are included that convert data exported through MIGRAINES to formats readable by Gnuplot 3.0, Matlab, Mathematica, and xgobi. The software is available from two FTP sites: from CMU's simulator collection on pt.cs.cmu.edu [128.2.254.155] in /afs/cs/project/connect/code/am6.tar.Z and from UCLA's cognitive science machine ftp.cognet.ucla.edu [128.97.50.19] in /pub/alexis/am6.tar.Z (2 MB).
    
    
12. Adaptive Logic Network kit
    This package differs from the traditional nets in that it uses logic functions rather than floating point; for many tasks, ALN's can show many orders of magnitude gain in training and performance speed. Anonymous ftp from menaik.cs.ualberta.ca [129.128.4.241] in directory /pub/atree. See the files README (7 KB), atree2.tar.Z (145 kb, Unix source code and examples), atree2.ps.Z (76 kb, documentation), a27exe.exe (412 kb, MS-Windows 3.x executable), atre27.exe (572 kb, MS-Windows 3.x source code).
    
    
13. NeuralShell
    Formerly available from FTP site quanta.eng.ohio-state.edu [128.146.35.1] as /pub/NeuralShell/NeuralShell.tar". Currently (April 94) not available and undergoing a major reconstruction. Not to be confused with NeuroShell by Ward System Group (see below under commercial software).
    
    
14. PDP
    The PDP simulator package is available via anonymous FTP at nic.funet.fi [128.214.6.100] as /pub/sci/neural/sims/pdp.tar.Z (202 kb). The simulator is also available with the book "Explorations in Parallel Distributed Processing: A Handbook of Models, Programs, and Exercises" by McClelland and Rumelhart. MIT Press, 1988. Comment: "This book is often referred to as PDP vol III which is a very misleading practice! The book comes with software on an IBM disk but includes a makefile for compiling on UNIX systems. The version of PDP available at ftp.funet.fi seems identical to the one with the book except for a bug in bp.c which occurs when you try to run a script of PDP commands using the DO command. This can be found and fixed easily."
    
    
15. Xerion
    Xerion runs on SGI and Sun machines and uses X Windows for graphics. The software contains modules that implement Back Propagation, Recurrent Back Propagation, Boltzmann Machine, Mean Field Theory, Free Energy Manipulation, Hard and Soft Competitive Learning, and Kohonen Networks. Sample networks built for each of the modules are also included. Contact: xerion@ai.toronto.edu. Xerion is available via anonymous ftp from ftp.cs.toronto.edu [128.100.1.105] in directory /pub/xerion as xerion-3.1.ps.Z (153 kB) and xerion-3.1.tar.Z (1.3 MB) plus several concrete simulators built with xerion (about 40 kB each).
    
    
16. Neocognitron simulator
    The simulator is written in C and comes with a list of references which are necessary to read to understand the specifics of the implementation. The unsupervised version is coded without (!) C-cell inhibition. Available for anonymous ftp from unix.hensa.ac.uk [129.12.21.7] in /pub/neocognitron.tar.Z (130 kB).
    
    
17. Multi-Module Neural Computing Environment (MUME)
    MUME is a simulation environment for multi-modules neural computing. It provides an object oriented facility for the simulation and training of multiple nets with various architectures and learning algorithms. MUME includes a library of network architectures including feedforward, simple recurrent, and continuously running recurrent neural networks. Each architecture is supported by a variety of learning algorithms. MUME can be used for large scale neural network simulations as it provides support for learning in multi-net environments. It also provide pre- and post-processing facilities. The modules are provided in a library. Several "front-ends" or clients are also available. X-Window support by editor/visualization tool Xmume. MUME can be used to include non-neural computing modules (decision trees, ...) in applications. MUME is available anonymous ftp on mickey.sedal.su.oz.au [129.78.24.170] after signing and sending a licence: /pub/license.ps (67 kb). Contact: Marwan Jabri, SEDAL, Sydney University Electrical Engineering, NSW 2006 Australia, marwan@sedal.su.oz.au
    
    
18. LVQ_PAK, SOM_PAK
    These are packages for Learning Vector Quantization and Self-Organizing Maps, respectively. They have been built by the LVQ/SOM Programming Team of the Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory of Computer and Information Science, Rakentajanaukio 2 C, SF-02150 Espoo, FINLAND There are versions for Unix and MS-DOS available from cochlea.hut.fi [130.233.168.48] as /pub/lvq_pak/lvq_pak-2.1.tar.Z (340 kB, Unix sources), /pub/lvq_pak/lvq_p2r1.exe (310 kB, MS-DOS self-extract archive), /pub/som_pak/som_pak-1.2.tar.Z (251 kB, Unix sources), /pub/som_pak/som_p1r2.exe (215 kB, MS-DOS self-extract archive). (further programs to be used with SOM_PAK and LVQ_PAK can be found in /pub/utils).
    
    
19. SESAME
    ("Software Environment for the Simulation of Adaptive Modular Systems") SESAME is a prototypical software implementation which facilitates
    • Object-oriented building blocks approach.
    • Contains a large set of C++ classes useful for neural nets, neurocontrol and pattern recognition. No C++ classes can be used as stand alone, though!
    • C++ classes include CartPole, nondynamic two-robot arms, Lunar Lander, Backpropagation, Feature Maps, Radial Basis Functions, TimeWindows, Fuzzy Set Coding, Potential Fields, Pandemonium, and diverse utility building blocks.
    • A kernel which is the framework for the C++ classes and allows run-time manipulation, construction, and integration of arbitrary complex and hybrid experiments.
    • Currently no graphic interface for construction, only for visualization.
    • Platform is SUN4, XWindows
    Unfortunately no reasonable good introduction has been written until now. We hope to have something soon. For now we provide papers (eg. NIPS-92), a reference manual (>220 pages), source code (ca. 35.000 lines of code), and a SUN4-executable by ftp only. Sesame and its description is available in various files for anonymous ftp on ftp ftp.gmd.de in the directories /gmd/as/sesame and /gmd/as/paper. Questions to sesame-request@gmd.de; there is only very limited support available.
    
    
20. Nevada Backpropagation (NevProp)
    NevProp is a free, easy-to-use feedforward backpropagation (multilayer perceptron) program. It uses an interactive character-based interface, and is distributed as C source code that should compile and run on most platforms. (Precompiled executables are available for Macintosh and DOS.) The original version was Quickprop 1.0 by Scott Fahlman, as translated from Common Lisp by Terry Regier. We added early-stopped training based on a held-out subset of data, c index (ROC curve area) calculation, the ability to force gradient descent (per-epoch or per-pattern), and additional options. FEATURES (NevProp version 1.16): UNLIMITED (except by machine memory) number of input PATTERNS; UNLIMITED number of input, hidden, and output UNITS; Arbitrary CONNECTIONS among the various layers' units; Clock-time or user-specified RANDOM SEED for initial random weights; Choice of regular GRADIENT DESCENT or QUICKPROP; Choice of PER-EPOCH or PER-PATTERN (stochastic) weight updating; GENERALIZATION to a test dataset; AUTOMATICALLY STOPPED TRAINING based on generalization; RETENTION of best-generalizing weights and predictions; Simple but useful GRAPHIC display to show smoothness of generalization; SAVING of results to a file while working interactively; SAVING of weights file and reloading for continued training; PREDICTION-only on datasets by applying an existing weights file; In addition to RMS error, the concordance, or c index is displayed. The c index (area under the ROC curve) shows the correctness of the RELATIVE ordering of predictions AMONG the cases; ie, it is a measure of discriminative power of the model. AVAILABILITY: The most updated version of NevProp will be made available by anonymous ftp from the University of Nevada, Reno: On ftp.scs.unr.edu [134.197.10.130] in the directory "pub/goodman/nevpropdir", e.g. README.FIRST (45 kb) or nevprop1.16.shar (138 kb). VERSION 2 to be released in Spring of 1994 -- some of the new features: more flexible file formatting (including access to external data files; option to prerandomize data order; randomized stochastic gradient descent; option to rescale predictor (input) variables); linear output units as an alternative to sigmoidal units for use with continuous-valued dependent variables (output targets); cross-entropy (maximum likelihood) criterion function as an alternative to square error for use with categorical dependent variables (classification/symbolic/nominal targets); and interactive interrupt to change settings on-the-fly. Limited support is available from Phil Goodman (goodman@unr.edu), University of Nevada Center for Biomedical Research.
    
    
21. Fuzzy ARTmap
    This is just a small example program. Available for anonymous ftp from park.bu.edu [128.176.121.56] /pub/fuzzy-artmap.tar.Z (44 kB).
    
    
22. PYGMALION
    This is a prototype that stems from an ESPRIT project. It implements back-propagation, self organising map, and Hopfield nets. Avaliable for ftp from ftp.funet.fi [128.214.248.6] as /pub/sci/neural/sims/pygmalion.tar.Z (1534 kb). (Original site is imag.imag.fr: archive/pygmalion/pygmalion.tar.Z).
    
    
23. Basis-of-AI-backprop
    Earlier versions have been posted in comp.sources.misc and people around the world have used them and liked them. This package is free for ordinary users but shareware for businesses and government agencies ($200/copy, but then for this you get the professional version as well). I do support this package via email. Some of the highlights are:
    • in C for UNIX and DOS and DOS binaries
    • gradient descent, delta-bar-delta and quickprop
    • extra fast 16-bit fixed point weight version as well as a conventional floating point version
    • recurrent networks
    • numerous sample problems
    Available for ftp from ftp.mcs.com in directory /mcsnet.users/drt. Or see the WWW page http://www.mcs.com/~drt/home.html. The expanded professional version is $30/copy for ordinary individuals including academics and $200/copy for businesses and government agencies (improved user interface, more activation functions, networks can be read into your own programs, dynamic node creation, weight decay, SuperSAB). More details can be found in the documentation for the student version. Contact: Don Tveter; 5228 N. Nashville Ave.; Chicago, Illinois 60656; drt@mcs.com
    
    
24. Matrix Backpropagation
    MBP (Matrix Back Propagation) is a very efficient implementation of the back-propagation algorithm for current-generation workstations. The algorithm includes a per-epoch adaptive technique for gradient descent. All the computations are done through matrix multiplications and make use of highly optimized C code. The goal is to reach almost peak-performances on RISCs with superscalar capabilities and fast caches. On some machines (and with large networks) a 30-40x speed-up can be measured with respect to conventional implementations. The software is available by anonymous ftp from risc6000.dibe.unige.it [130.251.89.154] as /pub/MBPv1.1.tar.Z (Unix version), /pub/MBPv11.zip.Z (MS-DOS version), /pub/mpbv11.ps (Documentation). For more information, contact Davide Anguita (anguita@dibe.unige.it).
    
    
25. WinNN
    WinNN is a shareware Neural Networks (NN) package for windows 3.1. WinNN incorporates a very user friendly interface with a powerful computational engine. WinNN is intended to be used as a tool for beginners and more advanced neural networks users, it provides an alternative to using more expensive and hard to use packages. WinNN can implement feed forward multi-layered NN and uses a modified fast back-propagation for training. Extensive on line help. Has various neuron functions. Allows on the fly testing of the network performance and generalization. All training parameters can be easily modified while WinNN is training. Results can be saved on disk or copied to the clipboard. Supports plotting of the outputs and weight distribution. Available for ftp from winftp.cica.indiana.edu as /pub/pc/win3/programr/winnn093.zip (545 kB).
    
    
26. BIOSIM
    BIOSIM is a biologically oriented neural network simulator. Public domain, runs on Unix (less powerful PC-version is available, too), easy to install, bilingual (german and english), has a GUI (Graphical User Interface), designed for research and teaching, provides online help facilities, offers controlling interfaces, batch version is available, a DEMO is provided. REQUIREMENTS (Unix version): X11 Rel. 3 and above, Motif Rel 1.0 and above, 12 MB of physical memory, recommended are 24 MB and more, 20 MB disc space. REQUIREMENTS (PC version): PC-compatible with MS Windows 3.0 and above, 4 MB of physical memory, recommended are 8 MB and more, 1 MB disc space. Four neuron models are implemented in BIOSIM: a simple model only switching ion channels on and off, the original Hodgkin-Huxley model, the SWIM model (a modified HH model) and the Golowasch-Buchholz model. Dendrites consist of a chain of segments without bifurcation. A neural network can be created by using the interactive network editor which is part of BIOSIM. Parameters can be changed via context sensitive menus and the results of the simulation can be visualized in observation windows for neurons and synapses. Stochastic processes such as noise can be included. In addition, biologically orientied learning and forgetting processes are modeled, e.g. sensitization, habituation, conditioning, hebbian learning and competitive learning. Three synaptic types are predefined (an excitatatory synapse type, an inhibitory synapse type and an electrical synapse). Additional synaptic types can be created interactively as desired. Available for ftp from ftp.uni-kl.de in directory /pub/bio/neurobio: Get /pub/bio/neurobio/biosim.readme (2 kb) and /pub/bio/neurobio/biosim.tar.Z (2.6 MB) for the Unix version or /pub/bio/neurobio/biosimpc.readme (2 kb) and /pub/bio/neurobio/biosimpc.zip (150 kb) for the PC version. Contact: Stefan Bergdoll; Department of Software Engineering (ZXA/US); BASF Inc.; D-67056 Ludwigshafen; Germany; bergdoll@zxa.basf-ag.de; phone 0621-60-21372; fax 0621-60-43735
    
    
27. The Brain
    The Brain is an advanced neural network simulator for PCs that is simple enough to be used by non-technical people, yet sophisticated enough for serious research work. It is based upon the backpropagation learning algorithm. Three sample networks are included. The documentation included provides you with an introduction and overview of the concepts and applications of neural networks as well as outlining the features and capabilities of The Brain. The Brain requires 512K memory and MS-DOS or PC-DOS version 3.20 or later (versions for other OS's and machines are available). A 386 (with maths coprocessor) or higher is recommended for serious use of The Brain. Shareware payment required. Demo version is restricted to number of units the network can handle due to memory contraints on PC's. Registered version allows use of extra memory. External documentation included: 39Kb, 20 Pages. Source included: No (Source comes with registration). Available via anonymous ftp from ftp.tu-clausthal.de as /pub/msdos/science/brain12.zip (78 kb) and from ftp.technion.ac.il as /pub/contrib/dos/brain12.zip (78 kb) Contact: David Perkovic; DP Computing; PO Box 712; Noarlunga Center SA 5168; Australia; Email: dip@mod.dsto.gov.au (preferred) or dpc@mep.com or perkovic@cleese.apana.org.au
    Read More
    
    
28. FuNeGen 1.0
    FuNeGen is a MLP based software program to generate fuzzy rule based classifiers. A limited version (maximum of 7 inputs and 3 membership functions for each input) for PCs is available for anonymous ftp from obelix.microelectronic.e-technik.th-darmstadt.de in directory /pub/neurofuzzy. For further information see the file read.me. Contact: Saman K. Halgamuge
    
    
29. NeuDL -- Neural-Network Description Language
    NeuDL is a description language for the design, training, and operation of neural networks. It is currently limited to the backpropagation neural-network model; however, it offers a great deal of flexibility. For example, the user can explicitly specify the connections between nodes and can create or destroy connections dynamically as training progresses. NeuDL is an interpreted language resembling C or C++. It also has instructions dealing with training/testing set manipulation as well as neural network operation. A NeuDL program can be run in interpreted mode or it can be automatically translated into C++ which can be compiled and then executed. The NeuDL interpreter is written in C++ and can be easly extended with new instructions. NeuDL is available from the anonymous ftp site at The University of Alabama: cs.ua.edu (130.160.44.1) in the file /pub/neudl/NeuDLver021.tar. The tarred file contains the interpreter source code (in C++) a user manual a paper about NeuDL, and about 25 sample NeuDL programs. A document demonstrating NeuDL's capabilities is also available from the ftp site: /pub/neudl/NeuDL/demo.doc /pub/neudl/demo.doc. For more information contact the author: Joey Rogers (jrogers@buster.eng.ua.edu).
    
    
30. NeoC Explorer (Pattern Maker included)
    The NeoC software is an implementation of Fukushima's Neocognitron neural network. Its purpose is to test the model and to facilitate interactivity for the experiments. Some substantial features: GUI, explorer and tester operation modes, recognition statistics, performance analysis, elements displaying, easy net construction. PLUS, a pattern maker utility for testing ANN: GUI, text file output, transformations. Available for anonymous FTP from OAK.Oakland.Edu (141.210.10.117) as /SimTel/msdos/neurlnet/neocog10.zip (193 kB, DOS version)
    
    

For some of these simulators there are user mailing lists. Get the packages and look into their documentation for further info.

If you are using a small computer (PC, Mac, etc.) you may want to have a look at the Central Neural System Electronic Bulletin Board (see answer 13). Modem: 409-737-5312; Sysop: Wesley R. Elsberry; 4160 Pirates' Beach, Galveston, TX, USA; welsberr@orca.tamu.edu. There are lots of small simulator packages, the CNS ANNSIM file set. There is an ftp mirror site for the CNS ANNSIM file set at me.uta.edu [129.107.2.20] in the /pub/neural directory. Most ANN offerings are in /pub/neural/annsim.

From: the comp.ai.neural-nets newsgroup.