Question: I'm creating software relating to neuroscience models and I'd like to use NeuroML--what do I do?

• Separate out the declarative aspects of the data and model specification. If all of the declarative aspects are defined in the NeuroML standards, use the standards to ensure compatability with other software.
• If some of the declarative aspects of your model specification are missing from the standards and you are willing to work with the NeuroML team to develop new standards, join the NeuroML Developers' Site at SourceForge.net. Work with other developers who are creating similar applications to see if you can agree on a common set of schema elements to describe your models.
• If this approach won't work for your application or compatability is not a priority for your project, serialize your model into XML using the NeuroML Development Kit (NDKit) in Java or your own code.

The NeuroML standards project focuses on the development of a XML-based description language that provides a common data format for defining and exchanging neuronal cell, network and modeling data. The standards are being developed in levels, where each level extends the features of the language. The NeuroML Level 1 standards provide a common data format for neuronal morphology data and metadata. Level 2 builds on Level 1 to include standards for passive membrane properties, ion channels, and channel distributions throughout a neuron. Collaborative development of additional levels is underway and includes neuronal network connectivity (Level 3) and subcellular processes such as detailed calcium dynamics and signaling pathways (Level 4). For more information, visit the NeuroML Standards page.

NeuroML also provides a validation service, which allows for validation of XML files against the various XML Schema documents which define the NeuroML standards. The NeuroMLValidator site also provides example documents that illustrate the capabilities of the current version of the NeuroML standards, and includes software for converting NeuroML files to the formats required by the GENESIS and NEURON simulation systems.

The NeuroML Development Kit (NDKit) allows entry of object models as Java class definitions, and includes automated serialization and output to XML. The kit includes routines to generate XML Schemas, UML versions and C++ source code from Java classes and is released under the LGPL license. Visit the NDKit page for more information.