# Install nest with Homebrew, dnf, Nix Neural Simulation Tool (NEST) with Python3 bindings (PyNEST). Version 3.10 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-11. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:nest ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install nest ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install nest ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#nest ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ne/nest/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:nest - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.10 - **Source summary:** Neural Simulation Tool (NEST) with Python3 bindings (PyNEST) - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-11T04:05:35Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - nest (cli) - nest-config (cli) - nest-server (cli) - nest-server-mpi (cli) - nest_indirect (cli) - nest_serial (cli) - nest_vars.sh (cli) - sli (cli) - nest (alias) - nest-config (alias) - nest-server (alias) - nest-server-mpi (alias) - nest_indirect (alias) - nest_serial (alias) - nest_vars.sh (alias) - sli (alias) ## Dependencies - gsl - libomp - libtool - numpy - python@3.14 - readline ## Build dependencies - cmake - cython ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: The PyNEST bindings and its dependencies are installed with the python@3.14 formula. If you want to use PyNEST, use the Python interpreter from this path: $HOMEBREW_CELLAR/python@3.14/3.14.6/bin You may want to add this to your PATH. - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 3.10 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-11 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/nest/nest-simulator - Upstream latest detected: v3.10 (current) ## Project history and usage NEST is a long-running open source simulator for spiking neural-network models. Its niche is computational neuroscience models where the dynamics, scale, and connectivity of neuron populations matter more than detailed single-neuron morphology. ### Project history The NEST project traces its public history to a 1994 release under the name SYNOD and later became the NEural Simulation Tool. The project is coordinated by the NEST Initiative and distributed under GPL-2.0-or-later. A major adoption shift was PyNEST: the 2008 PyNEST paper describes NEST as a C++ simulation kernel designed for large systems and explains why the project moved from its native SLI simulation language toward Python as the user-facing workflow. ### Adoption history NEST is used mainly in computational neuroscience, especially for large networks of point neurons, plasticity models, cortical-network examples, and reproducible simulator benchmarks. The project site describes a large developer community and support for systems ranging from laptops to clusters and supercomputers. Homebrew analytics show a specialist but active macOS/Linux package audience: the formula listed 806 installs in the 365-day window visible on the formula page, all on request. ### How it is used Package users normally install it to get the `nest` command and PyNEST bindings. In practice, researchers write Python scripts or notebooks that import `nest`, create neuron/device nodes, connect populations, run `nest.Simulate(...)`, and analyze spike or voltage traces with Python scientific tooling. The package-nerd angle is that the Python bindings are tied to the Homebrew Python used by the formula; the formula notes that PyNEST is installed with the `python@3.14` dependency and points users at that interpreter path. ### Why package nerds care NEST is significant less as a general CLI and more as a packaged scientific runtime: it pulls together a C++ simulator, Python bindings, numerical dependencies, and examples into something reproducible enough for papers, workshops, and neuroscience teaching. ### Timeline - 1994: first released under the name SYNOD, according to the NEST project site. - 2007: Gewaltig and Diesmann published the Scholarpedia NEST citation used for older NEST versions. - 2008: PyNEST paper published, documenting the Python interface and the motivation for moving beyond SLI. - June 2026: NEST 3.10 listed as the current release on the NEST homepage and Homebrew formula. ### Related projects - PyNEST - NEST Desktop - NESTML - NESTGPU - PyNN - Elephant ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** nest - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - nest: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ne/nest/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - dnf - nest - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | The neural simulation tool | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-common - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-common from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Common files for nest | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-devel - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for nest | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-doc - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-doc from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Documentation for nest | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-mpich - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-mpich from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | nest built with mpich | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-mpich-common - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-mpich-common from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Common files for nest built with mpich support | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-mpich-devel - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-mpich-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Header files for nest built with mpich support | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-openmpi - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-openmpi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | nest built with openmpi | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-openmpi-common - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-openmpi-common from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Common files for nest built with openmpi support | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - nest-openmpi-devel - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: nest-openmpi-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Development files for nest built with openmpi support | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - python3-nest - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-nest from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Python3 bindings for nest | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - python3-nest-mpich - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-nest-mpich from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Python3 bindings for nest with mpich support | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ - dnf - python3-nest-openmpi - 3.8-11.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: python3-nest-openmpi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Python3 bindings for nest with openmpi support | http://www.nest-simulator.org/ ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Language runtime packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/language-runtime-packages/) - Matched language runtime, compiler, or interpreter metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [gsl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gsl/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libtool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtool/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [numpy](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/numpy/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [python@3.14](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/python-3-14/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cmake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cython](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cython/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [damask-grid](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/damask-grid/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [lammps](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lammps/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [ode](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ode/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [precice](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/precice/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [shamrock](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/shamrock/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [simgrid](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/simgrid/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [spim](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/spim/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. - [cp2k](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cp2k/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, science, simulation. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/nest.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/nest.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph