OpenSim vs U-DaLES
OpenSim
opensim.stanford.eduU-DaLES
udales.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | OpenSim | U-DaLES |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Physics Simulation Software | 8.7 (#6) | 7.4 (#65) |
| Data export | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery mode | desktop | desktop |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lesson library | Yes | No |
| License | The GUI and API are open source under Apache 2.0, while models, examples, and plugins may have their own licenses. | The public source repository states that uDALES files are licensed under the GNU General Public License. |
| Purpose | OpenSim models humans, animals, robots, and the environment, and simulates their interaction and movement. | uDALES is an open-source large-eddy simulation model for urban microclimate, airflow, heat, moisture, and pollutant transport. |
| Support | OpenSim provides documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum where users can seek help from experts. | The project asks users to report issues or unexpected behavior with the new Python package through the uDALES GitHub issue tracker. |
| Supported systems | The GUI is distributed for 64-bit Windows and Mac; the documentation says there is no public Linux GUI distribution. | The model is supported on Linux, macOS, and Windows Subsystem for Linux, and the documentation also provides HPC build instructions. |
| 3D visuals | Yes | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
OpenSim
OpenSim models and simulates how humans, animals, robots, and their environment move and interact. Its graphical interface displays models and supports creating and analyzing simulations. Models can contain rigid bodies, joints, constraints, contact, muscles, and other actuators. Movement analysis tools include inverse kinematics, inverse dynamics, static optimization, and forward dynamics; Computed Muscle Control can generate muscle-driven forward simulations. The API is usable through Matlab, Python, Java, and C++, and GUI scripting uses an embedded Jython shell. Plugins can add analyses and model components, but must be built for the same OpenSim version and platform. The graphical interface is distributed for 64-bit Windows and Mac, while there is no public Linux GUI distribution; the API source can be built for Linux. OpenSim is free and open source under Apache 2.0, though models, examples, and plugins may have separate licenses. It is intended for research and teaching and welcomes academic and commercial applications. Documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum are available. Downloading requires a SimTK account.