This directory contains the August 1997 distribution of GENESIS,
version 2.1.

This release represents a major revision of GENESIS from version 1.4.2,
and has a number of new features and improvements from the previous
version 2.0.2.  Please read the file genesis/Doc/Changes.doc for a
description of changes in the 2.1 release.  Changes from versions 2.0.2
are also described in genesis/src/CHANGES.

Directions for installing the software may be found in the README file
contained in the 'src' subdirectory.  Be sure to read the directions
concerning the installation of the ".simrc" file.  Directions for printing
and using the documentation may be found in 'Doc/README'.  The
'Scripts/README' file describes the demonstration and tutorial simulations
which are included with this distribution.

Description:

GENESIS 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.  GENESIS has provided the basis for laboratory courses
in neural simulation at both Caltech and the Marine Biological Laboratory in
Woods Hole, MA.  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.

Machine dependence:  

GENESIS and its graphical front-end XODUS are written in C and run
under UNIX on Sun (SunOS 4.x or Solaris 2.x), DECstation (Ultrix),
Silicon Graphics (Irix 4.0.1 and up) or x86 PC (Linux or FreeBSD)
machines with X-windows (versions X11R4, X11R5, and X11R6).  DEC Alphas
(OSF v2 and v3) IBM RS6000s (AIX) and HPs (HPUX) have been successful
in compiling and running, though our experience is limited.  We have
received reports of use of GENESIS on the Power Macintosh with the
current (ver. 2.1) developers release of Mac Linux, but have not tested
it ourselves.  We welcome feedback on experiences with these
platforms.  Other platforms may be capable of running GENESIS, but the
software has not been tested by Caltech outside of these environments.

A detailed guide to the GENESIS neuroscience tutorials and the
construction of GENESIS simulations is given in:

   The Book of GENESIS: Exploring Realistic Neural Models with the GEneral
   NEural SImulation System, Second Edition, by James M. Bower and David
   Beeman, published by TELOS/Springer-Verlag -- ISBN 0-387-94938-0

GENESIS Users Group:

Serious users of GENESIS are advised to join the users group, BABEL.
Members of BABEL are entitled to access the BABEL directories and email
newsgroup.  These are used as a repository for the latest contributions by
GENESIS users and developers.  These include new simulations, libraries of
cells and channels, additional simulator components, new documentation and
tutorials, bug reports and fixes, and the posting of questions and hints for
setting up GENESIS simulations.  As the results of GENESIS research
simulations are published, many of these simulations are being made
available through BABEL.  New developments are announced in a newsletter
which is sent by email to all members.  BABEL operates from an Internet
accessable SUN SPARCstation 2 at Caltech.  Members are able to access the
BABEL directories and transfer files to and from their host machines using
a passworded ftp account.

Inquiries concerning GENESIS should be addressed to
genesis@bbb.caltech.edu.  Inquiries concerning BABEL memberships should be
sent to babel@bbb.caltech.edu.  Other information concerning GENESIS,
including "snapshots" of GENESIS simulations and descriptions of research
which has been conducted with GENESIS may be found on the GENESIS World Wide
Web Server:  http://www.bbb.caltech.edu/GENESIS

Disclaimer:

 It should be understood that this software system is being provided for
 general distribution as a public service to the neural network and
 computational neuroscience communities.  We make no claims as to the
 quality or functionality of this software for any purpose whatsoever and
 its release does not constitute a commitment on our part to provide support
 of any kind.

Copyright Notice:

  Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  by the California Institute of Technology

  Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
  documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
  provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
  both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
  supporting documentation, and that the name of the California
  Institute of Technology not be used in advertising or publicity
  pertaining to distribution of the software without specific, written
  prior permission.  The California Institute of Technology makes no
  representations about the suitability of this software for any
  purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

  Some components are copyright by the originating institution and are
  used with the permission of the authors.  The conditions of these
  copyrights (none of which restrict the free distribution of GENESIS)
  appear with these modules.
