nMod nBody Modelling Toolkit allows for nBody modelling experiments on an ordinary computer with ease. The software provides the convenience of running tests within the field on a standard home computer.
One of the key features of the toolkit is that it contains a Particle Particle nBody model, which allows you to simulate complex systems with multiple interacting particles. Additionally, there's an OpenGL viewer that displays the output of the nBody model and utilities for generating new projects and editing existing output files.
nMod Toolkit is perfect for undergraduate and postgraduate research and is also an excellent tool for hobbyists. The software has been designed to be user-friendly, even for those new to nBody modelling. Recent updates to the user manual make it easier than ever to get started with the toolkit.
The software is currently supported on Linux and Windows XP, and the developer plans to add OSX support soon. Unfortunately, Vista support is not available yet. However, the developer plans to test nMod on Vista as soon as possible.
The default project in nMod represents the solar system as it was on the 24th of August 2006. It includes Point Mass representations of Voyager 1 and 2, Pioneer 10 and 11, which closely approximate their real trajectories when the system is iterated. If you build an interesting set of particles, you can send it to the developer to be shared on their website.
While reference builds are available for the nBody model and the viewer, more advanced work, like using evolutionary algorithms to discover an optimal orbit for a spacecraft, will require a separate application. Tutorials to help with this are being developed and will be added to the user manual soon.
Overall, nMod is a fantastic tool for anyone interested in nBody modelling. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it an excellent choice for both researchers and hobbyists.
Version 3.1d: N/A