nengo_spinnaker is a SpiNNaker-based simulator for models built using Nengo. It allows real-time simulation of large-scale models.

Install using pip:

$ pip install nengo_spinnaker

Configure nengo_spinnaker to use your local SpiNNaker system:

$ nengo_spinnaker_setup

To use SpiNNaker to simulate your Nengo model first construct the model as normal. Then use nengo_spinnaker.Simulator to simulate your model.:

import nengo_spinnaker

# Build model as normal

sim = nengo_spinnaker.Simulator(network)
sim.run(10.0)

# When done
sim.close()

After running your model you must call close to leave the SpiNNaker machine in a clean state. Alternatively a with block may be used to ensure the simulator is closed after use:

with sim:
    sim.run(10.0)

Some specific configuration options are available for SpiNNaker. To use these:

# Modify config to use SpiNNaker parameters
nengo_spinnaker.add_spinnaker_params(network.config)

Current settings are:

• function_of_time - Mark a Node as being a function of time only.
• function_of_time_period - Provide the period of the Node.

For example:

with model:
    signal = nengo.Node(lambda t: np.sin(t))

nengo_spinnaker.add_spinnaker_params(model.config)
model.config[signal].function_of_time = True

In order to know which SpiNNaker system to use, nengo_spinnaker uses a config file called nengo_spinnaker.conf file in either the directory you will be running your code from or, more usefully, a centralised location. The centralised location varies based on your operating system:

• Windows: %userprofile%\.nengo\nengo_spinnaker.conf
• Other: ~/.config/nengo/nengo_spinnaker.conf

A utility called nengo_spinnaker_setup installed with nengo_spinnaker can be used to create this file. By default, the config file is created centrally but adding the --project option will create a config file in the current directory which applies only .

An annotated example config file is provided for users who wish to create their config file by hand.

See DEVELOP.md for information on how to get involved in nengo_spinnaker development and how to install and build the latest copy of nengo_spinnaker.