NuPIC is a library that provides the building blocks for online prediction systems. The library contains the Cortical Learning Algorithm (CLA), but also the Online Prediction Framework (OPF) that allows clients to build prediction systems out of encoders, models, and metrics.

Encoders turn raw values into sparse distributed representations (SDRs). A good encoder will capture the semantics of the data type in the SDR using overlapping bits for semantically similar values.

Models take sequences of SDRs and make predictions. The CLA is implemented as an OPF model.

Metrics take input values and predictions and output scalar representations of the quality of the predictions. Different metrics are suitable for different problems.

Clients take input data and feed it through encoders, models, and metrics and store or report the resulting predictions or metric results.

NuPIC requires Python 2.6, GCC, and Make.

Add an environment variable that points to your installation directory and update PATH and PYTHONPATH to reference install locations:

export NTA=$HOME/nta/eng
export PATH=$NTA/bin:$PATH
export PYTHONPATH=$NTA/lib/python2.6/site-packages:$PYTHONPATH
export NUPIC=/path/to/repo
export NTA_ROOTDIR=$NTA
# Convenience variable for temporary build files.
export BUILDDIR=$HOME/ntabuild

Build and install NuPIC:

pushd $NUPIC/build_system
python setup.py --autogen
mkdir $BUILDDIR
cd $BUILDDIR
$NUPIC/configure
make install
popd

NuPIC should now be installed in $NTA!

Run the C++ tests:

$NTA/bin/htmtest
$NTA/bin/testeverything

You can run the examples using the OpfRunExperiment OPF client:

python $NUPIC/examples/opf/bin/OpfRunExperiment.py $NUPIC/examples/opf/experiments/multistep/hotgym/