 	This directory contains the August 1993 distribution of GENESIS
 (version 1.4.1).  It represents a modest upgrade to version 1.4 and
 contains many improvements over the July 1990 distribution which has been
 available at the genesis.cns.caltech.edu ftp site.  The file README.changes
 in this directory describes the additions and changes from previous versons
 of GENESIS.  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.

 	GENESIS (GEneral NEural SImulation System)  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.  For the last five years 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,
 however, the system has also been used to model more abstract networks. 
 The system is not, however, a particularly efficient way to construct and
 run simple feedforward back propagation type simulations. 
 
 	 XODUS (X-windows Output and Display Utility for Simulations) was
 written to provide a graphical interface for the GENESIS system. It was
 written with both portability and flexibility in mind.  It provides a
 platform for modelers to construct an interface for particular simulations
 using a high level interpretive language and an existing library of
 graphical widgets.  Although written in conjunction with the simulator,
 XODUS comprises a standalone package potentially useful with a variety of
 applications.  More information on the simulator and its interface can be
 obtained from  an article by:  Wilson, M.A., Bhalla, U.S., Uhley, J.D., and
 Bower, J.M.  titled:  GENESIS: A system for simulating neural networks.  In:
  Advances in Neural information processing systems.  D. Touretzky, editor.
 Morgan Kaufmann, San Mateo, CA. 485-492, 1989).
 
 Machine dependence and distribution details:

 	GENESIS and XODUS are written in C and run on SUN and DEC graphics
 work stations under UNIX (Sun version 4.0 and up, Ultrix 3.1, 4.0 and up),
 and X-windows (versions X11R3, X11R4, and X11R5).  The present version will
 also run on the SGI with Irix 4.0.1 and up and the HP 700 series.

 	The software occupies close to 25 MB of disk space during the
 compilation process on a SPARCstation 2.  Non-SPARC machines will require
 less room to compile.  Once compilation and installation has been done, the
 software occupies about 8 MB of disk space, and can use as little as 4 MB
 if user-written C code is not to be linked into the simulator.  The
 distributed compressed tar file is about 3 MB in size.  The current
 distribution includes full source code and documentation for both GENESIS
 and XODUS as well as fourteen tutorial simulations.  Documentation for
 these tutorials is included along with three papers that describe the
 general organization of the simulator. 
 
 GENESIS Users Group:

 Serious users of GENESIS are advised to join the users group, BABEL.  In
 addition to receiving the lates versions of GENESIS, members of BABEL are
 entitled to access the BABEL directories and bulletin board.  These are
 used as a depository for the latest simulations, additional simulator
 components, new documentation and tutorials, bug reports and fixes, and the
 posting of questions and hints for setting up GENESIS simulations.
 Inquiries concerning BABEL membership may be sent to
 genesis@cns.caltech.edu.
 
 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 (c) 1993 by California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and
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 Caltech not be used in advertising or
publicity pertaining to distribution of the software without specific,
written prior permission.  Caltech makes no representations about the
suitability or merchantability of this software for any purpose.  It is
provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.
