Modeling Commons: Sharing and Collaborating on NetLogo Models

If you've been looking for a space to share NetLogo models with other enthusiasts, you might want to consider checking out the Modeling Commons website. Sponsored by the Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling at Northwestern University, the website provides a platform for users to upload, search, and collaborate on NetLogo models with other users.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at the basic features of the Modeling Commons website and how to use them.

Getting Started with Modeling Commons

To access the Modeling Commons website, simply go to modelingcommons.org on your web browser. No login is required to use the website's basic features.

Once you're on the website, you can start searching for NetLogo models in two ways. You can go to the list models page to see all the available models, or you can use the search bar if you already know the name of the model.

For instance, let's say we're interested in finding the 'sister wolf' model. Upon searching for the model's name, we'll get a search results page showing any matches. Here, we have zero matches. We'll learn more about social tags in another screencast.

Exploring a NetLogo Model on Modeling Commons

Once you find a NetLogo model of interest to you, like, for example, the 'wolf-sheep predation' model, you can access its page to explore more details about the model.

On the model page, you'll find the following tabs:

• Intro: provides an introduction to the model
• Discuss: allows you to participate in discussions about the model
• Info: contains the documentation and information about the model
• Code: has the programs and procedures that were written
• Run: lets you run the model

If you'd like to run the model, simply click the 'run' tab. For some NetLogo models that require external files or 3D features, they may not work on Modeling Commons as yet, but the team is working towards providing these features.

Additional Features on Modeling Commons

Apart from searching and exploring NetLogo models, there are additional features on Modeling Commons that you can access by logging in:

• Uploading your own models
• Participating in discussions and commenting on models
• Joining groups, commissions, and projects

These advanced features are highlighted in additional screencasts that you can access on the website.

Conclusion

Modeling Commons is a great website for anyone interested in NetLogo modeling and wants to share their work with other enthusiasts, explore other models to inspire their work or collaborate with others to augment their models. We invite you to explore the website and reach out to us via email if you have any questions or comments.