PyNN is a simulator-independent language for building neuronal network models. The PyNN API aims to support modelling at a high-level of abstraction (populations of neurons, layers, columns and the connections between them) while still allowing access to the details of individual neurons and synapses when required.

Open metadata markup language (odML) is a format for storing metadata in an organised human- and machine-readable way. It does not constrain the metadata content, while providing a common schema (with implementations in XML, JSON, YAML) to integrate metadata from various sources. In addition, odML facilitates and encourages standardization by providing terminologies for metadata.