AGENTBLOCKS: A Community Platform for Sharing, Comparing, and Improving Reusable Building Blocks for (Agent-Based) Models

Tatiana Filatova (), Liz Verbeek (), Martijn Warnier (), Amineh Ghorbani (), Igor Nikolic (), Volker Grimm (), Uta Berger (), Michael Barton (), Andrew Bell (), Allen Lee (), Nicholas R Magliocca () and Thorid Wagenblast ()
Additional contact information
Tatiana Filatova: http://www.sc3.center/
Martijn Warnier: https://www.tudelft.nl/staff/m.e.warnier/?cHash=3001d902267abe0d5c3754b5c2a4a817
Amineh Ghorbani: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/staff/a.ghorbani/
Igor Nikolic: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/staff/i.nikolic/?cHash=b7c4df121649a4945f1d5c3ad65f5b0f
Volker Grimm: https://www.ufz.de/index.php?de=36522
Uta Berger: https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/forst/ww/bsa/die-professur/uta-berger?set_language=en
Michael Barton: https://search.asu.edu/profile/24728
Andrew Bell: https://cals.cornell.edu/andrew-reid-bell
Allen Lee: https://search.asu.edu/profile/956135
Nicholas R Magliocca: https://heima.ua.edu/people.html
Thorid Wagenblast: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/staff/t.wagenblast/

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 2025, vol. 28, issue 4, 11

Abstract: Agent-based modeling proliferates across applications and scientific disciplines. The downsides of this success are the plurality of code implementations and redundant solutions to recurring modeling tasks. It is especially critical for simulations concerned with modeling human behavior and social institutions. Reusable building blocks (RBBs) are seen as a solution due to their potential to foster standardization grounded in best practices, integration of domain knowledge (including qualitative social sciences) in code, and efficient model design. RBBs are compact code components representing mechanisms or processes useful across models and applications. RBBs have been extensively discussed in the agent-based community, with little progress in implementation. Here, we present an open-access online community platform – AGENTBLOCKS – designed to facilitate the sharing, comparison, review, reuse, and improvement of RBBs. As an international community effort, AGENTBLOCKS leverages lessons from past RBBs discussions and principles from other modeling communities that successfully apply modular, reusable code practices. The paper introduces the interface and structure of this repository, presents templates for RBBs documentation, provides tips to support aspiring users, and first examples. We highlight the need for alternative RBB implementations that share the same generic description. We also acknowledge that RBBs might represent different levels of interactions, starting from decisions concerning a single agent to interactions between multiple agents or agents and their environment. While initially designed to assist agent-based community, the platform can be utilized by other modelers (e.g. system dynamics, integrated assessment, equilibrium) who seek to improve the representation of human behavior, micro-level processes, heterogeneity, interactions, learning, and other complex dynamics. Naturally, the platform is only one element in the chain towards a successful adoption of best software development practices like RBBs. Future work should focus on populating the repository, refining review processes, and systematizing the variety of RBBs’ implementations including engagement with domain experts. Following this initial phase, we hope to further support technical improvements of the platform and widen its impact in and beyond the agent-based community.

Keywords: FAIR Principles; Open Access; Behavioral Theory; Individual-Based Models; Complex Adaptive Systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10-31
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