stockandflowmodeller

Stockandflowmodeller is a software library and modeling framework designed to support the construction and analysis of stock-and-flow models, a common representation in system dynamics. The framework provides abstractions for stocks (quantities that accumulate or deplete over time), flows (rates that change stocks), auxiliaries (calculated or intermediate values), parameters, and constants. Users build models by defining these elements and connecting them with mathematical relationships that describe their behavior over time.

Models created with stockandflowmodeller can be simulated to produce time series for stocks, flows, and auxiliary variables. The toolkit typically supports specifying initial conditions, choosing numerical integration methods, and running scenarios to explore how systems respond under different assumptions. In addition to simulation, the software often offers visualization capabilities, allowing users to view stock-and-flow diagrams and inspect time-based results through plots and dashboards.

Common uses of stockandflowmodeller include education, where it helps students grasp system dynamics concepts, and research or policy analysis, where researchers prototype models of processes such as population dynamics, resource use, epidemiology, or economic systems. The framework is designed to facilitate rapid prototyping, experimentation with model structure, and clear communication of model behavior to stakeholders.

In terms of ecosystem and development, stockandflowmodeller aims to provide a clean, well-documented API that supports reuse and collaboration. Documentation, tutorials, and example models are typically available to help new users adopt the toolkit and translate real-world problems into stock-and-flow representations.