Glossary#

The following terms describe both the features and functionality of the idmtools software, as well as information relevant to using idmtools.

analyzer#: Functionality that uses the MapReduce framework to process large data sets in parallel, typically on a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster. For example, if you would like to focus on specific data points from all simulations in one or more experiments then you can do this using analyzers with idmtools and plot the final output.
asset collection#: A collection of user created input files, such as demographics, temperature, weather, binaries, and overlay files. These files are stored in COMPS and can be available for use by other users.
assets#: See asset collection.
builder#: A function and list of values with which to call that function that is used to sweep through parameter values in a simulation.
calibration#: The process of adjusting the parameters of a simulation to better match the data from a particular time and place.
container#: A Docker container that includes a Linux operating system, Python 3.9, MPICH, and all necessary dependencies. This container is used to run the idmtools software.
EMOD#: An agent-based mechanistic disease transmission model built by IDM that can be used with idmtools. See the EMOD GitHub repo.
entity#: Each of the interfaces or classes that are well-defined models, types, and validations for idmtools items, such as simulations, analyzers, or tasks.
experiment#: Logical grouping of simulations. This allows for managing numerous simulations as a single unit or grouping.
high-performance computing (HPC)#: The use of parallel processing for running advanced applications efficiently, reliably, and quickly.
parameter sweep#: An iterative process in which simulations are run repeatedly using different values of the parameter(s) of choice. This process enables the modeler to determine what a parameter’s “best” value or range of values.
platform#: The computing resource on which the simulation runs. See Platforms for more information on those that are currently supported.
server-side modeling tools (SSMT)#: Modeling tools used with COMPS that handle computation on the server side, rather than the client side, to speed up analysis.
simulation#: An individual run of a model. Generally, multiple simulations are run as part of an experiement.
suite#: Logical grouping of experiments. This allows for managing multiple experiments as a single unit or grouping.
task#: The individual actions that are processed for each simulation.