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The following papers, reports, web sites, etc., provide information comparing software platforms for agent-based modeling. Please add other useful resources.

• Lytinen, S. L. and S. F. Railsback. 2012. The Evolution of Agent-based Simulation Platforms: A Review of NetLogo 5.0 and ReLogo. To appear in Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation, at the 21st European Meeting on Cybernetics and Systems Research (EMCSR 2012), Vienna, Austria, April 2012. Available at: http://condor.depaul.edu/slytinen/abm/Lytinen-Railsback-EMCSR_2012-02-17.pdf Supporting materials are at: http://condor.depaul.edu/slytinen/abm/

Abstract. We review and evaluate two related agent-based simulation platforms: version 5.0 of NetLogo and the ReLogo component of Repast. We implemented the “StupidModel” series of 16 pseudo-models in both platforms; these codes contain many elements of basic agent-based models and can serve as templates for programming real models. Subsequent to the similar review we published in 2006, NetLogo has evolved into a powerful platform for scientific modeling while retaining its basic conceptual design, ease of use, and excellent documentation. ReLogo is a new component of Repast; it implements NetLogo’s basic design and its primitives in the Groovy programming language embedded in the Eclipse development environment. ReLogo successfully reimplements much of NetLogo, and its translator was successful in converting NetLogo codes into ReLogo. Overall we found ReLogo considerably more challenging to use and a less productive development environment. Using ReLogo requires learning Groovy and Eclipse and becoming familiar with Repast’s complex organization; documentation and learning materials are far less abundant and mature than NetLogo’s. Though we did not investigate thoroughly, it is not clear what kinds of models could readily be implemented in ReLogo but not NetLogo. On average, NetLogo executed our example models approximately 20 times faster than ReLogo.

• Castle, Christian J. E., and Andrew T. Crooks. 2006. Principles and Concepts of Agent-Based Modelling for Developing Geospatial Simulations. Working paper 110, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London. Available at: http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/publications/workingPaperDetail.asp?ID=110

Abstract. This review of agent-based modeling includes an overview of several software platforms: Swarm, MASON, Repast, StarLogo, NetLogo, OBEUS, AgentSheets and AnyLogic.

• Railsback, S. F., S. L. Lytinen, and S. K. Jackson. 2006. Agent-based simulation platforms: review and development recommendations. Simulation 82: 609-623. A pre-publication draft is available from the individual-based modeling site at Humboldt State Univ..

Abstract. This article reviews software platforms for scientific agent-based models (ABMs), by implementing example models in each platform. NetLogo is the highest-level platform, providing a simple yet powerful programming language, built-in graphical interfaces, and comprehensive documentation. It is designed primarily for ABMs of mobile individuals in a grid space with local interactions, but not necessarily clumsy for others. NetLogo is highly recommended, even for prototyping complex models. MASON, Repast, and Swarm are "framework and library" platforms, providing a conceptual framework for organizing and designing ABMs and corresponding software libraries. MASON is least mature and designed with execution speed a high priority. The Objective-C version of Swarm is the most mature library platform and is stable and well-organized. Objective-C seems more natural for ABMs than Java, but weak error-handling and the lack of developer tools are drawbacks. Java Swarm allows Swarm’s Objective-C libraries to be called from Java; it does not seem to combine the advantages of the two languages well. Repast provides Swarm-like functions in a Java library and is a good choice for many, but parts of its organization and design could be improved. A rough comparison of execution speed found MASON and Repast fastest (MASON 1-35% faster than Repast), Swarm (including Objective-C) sometimes fastest and sometimes slowest, and NetLogo intermediate. Recommendations include providing basic documentation (a weakness of all platforms except NetLogo), strengthening conceptual frameworks, providing better tools for statistical output and automating simulation experiments, simplifying common tasks, and researching technologies for understanding simulation results and how they arise.

• Tobias, R., and C. Hofmann. 2004. Evaluation of free Java-libraries for social-scientific agent based simulation. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 7: http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/7/1/6.html.

Abstract. This paper compares four freely available programming libraries for support of social scientific agent based computer simulation: RePast, Swarm, Quicksilver, and VSEit. Our aim is evaluation to determine the simulation framework that is the best suited for theory and data based modeling of social interventions, such as information campaigns. Our first step consisted in an Internet search for programming libraries and the selection of suitable candidates for detailed evaluation on the basis of 'knock out' criteria. Next, we developed a rating system and assessed the selected simulation environments on the basis of the rating criteria. The evaluation was based on official program documentation, statements by developers and users, and the experiences and impressions of the evaluators. The evaluation results showed the RePast environment to be the clear winner. In a further step, the evaluation results were weighted according to effort/time/energy saved by social scientists by using the particular ready-made programming library as compared to doing their own programming. Once again, the weighted results show RePast to win out over the other Java based programming libraries examined.

• Gilbert, N., and S. Bankes. 2002. Platforms and methods for agent-based modeling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 99 Supplement 3:7197-7198. http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/99/suppl_3/7197.

• Leigh Tesfatsion's "Agent-based Computational Economics" site includes a page listing and describing many platforms.

• Berryman, M. 2008. Review of Software Platforms for Agent Based Models, DSTO GD-0532.