Installing PyNN on a Linux system

PyNN is a simulator-independent language for building neuronal network models. You can write the code for a model once, using the PyNN API and the Python programming language, and then run it without modification on any simulator that PyNN supports (currently NEURON, NEST, and Brian 2) and on several neuromorphic hardware systems.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install PyNN, together with the Brian 2, NEST, and NEURON simulators, on Linux.

*Tutorial name*

Installing PyNN on a Linux system

*Tutorial author*

Shailesh Appukuttan & Andrew Davison

_Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/ Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France_

*Tool group name*

PyNN

*High-level topic*

Simulator for building neuronal network models

*EBRAINS service category*

SC3

*Keywords of topics covered in the tutorial*

PyNN, Python, Installation, Linux, Simulator, Brian2, NEST, NEURON, Neuroscience

*Links*

GitHub: https://github.com/NeuralEnsemble/PyNN

Home page: https://neuralensemble.org/PyNN/

Documentation: https://neuralensemble.org/docs/PyNN/

Mailing list: https://groups.google.com/g/neuralensemble

*Prerequisites*

To follow this tutorial, you will need a computer with Linux and a good network connection. You will need to know how to open the terminal application for your operating system.

*Level (beginner, intermediate, advanced)*

Beginner

*Internal reviewers*

• Anne Devismes

_Technical Editor, Norwegian University of Life Sciences_

• Hans Ekkehard Plesser

_Head, Department of Data Science, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Norwegian University of Life Sciences_

*Release date*

May 6, 2022

*Acknowledgements*

PyNN has been developed by many different people, with financial support from several organisations. We would like to mention in particular the CNRS and the European Commission, through the FACETS, BrainScaleS, and Human Brain Project grants.