Topographica

File Release Notes and Changelog

Release Name: 0.9.5

Notes:
0.9.5 is a major update that includes all the changes since
10/2007, with significant new features and important bugfixes.
It is highly recommended that all users (other than those
already using an up to date SVN version) upgrade to 0.9.5.





Changes:
Changes relative to the 10/2007 0.9.4 release

General improvements:
    - numerous bugfixes and performance improvements
    - simulation can now be locked to real time
    - simpler and more complete support for dynamic 
      parameters
    - updated to Python 2.5 and numpy 1.1.1.
    - source code moved from CVS to Subversion (SVN)
    - automatic Windows and Mac daily builds
    - automatic running and startup performance measurement
    - contrib dir
    - divisive and multiplicative connections
    - simulation time is now a rational number for precision
    - PyTables HDF5 interface
    - more options for adding noise

Command-line and batch:
    - simplified example file syntax (see the
      lissom_oo_or.ty and som_retinotopy.ty examples)
    - command prompt uses IPython for better debugging, help
    - simulation name set automatically from .ty script
      name by default
    - command-line options can be called explicitly

GUI:
    - model editor fully supports dynamic parameters 
      (described in the lissom_oo_or tutorial)
    - plot windows can be docked into main window
    - uses tk8.5 for anti-aliased fonts

Plotting:
    - new preference map types (Hue, Direction, Speed)
    - combined (joint) plots using contour and arrow
      overlays
    - example of generating activity movies (examples/
      lissom_or_movie.ty)

Example scripts:
    - example files for robotics interfacing 
      (misc/playerrobot.py, misc/robotics.py)
    - simulation, plots, and analysis for modelling of any 
      combination of position, orientation, ocular
      dominance, stereoscopic disparity, motion direction,
      speed, spatial frequency, and color
      (examples/lissom.ty).

Component library:
    - OutputFns: PoissonSample,
      ScalingOF (for homeostatic plasticity),
      NakaRushton (for contrast gain control)
      AttributeTrackingOF (analyze/plot values over time)
    - PatternGenerator: CameraImage (for real-time 
      camera inputs)
    - CoordMapper: Jitter
    - SheetMasks: AndMask, OrMask, CompositeSheetMask
    - command: decode_feature (for estimating perceived 
      values) (e.g. for calculating aftereffects)
    - functions for analyzing V1 complex cells
    - PipelineOF OutputFns can now be constructed easily 
      using +
    - NumberGenerators can now be constructed using 
      +,-,/,*,abs etc.

We also provide a utility to update scripts that were 
written for version 0.9.4.