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Archived Projects & Historical Context

OpenWorm has evolved significantly since 2011. These projects were important milestones but have been superseded by current Design Documents.

Principle: We don't delete history — we contextualize it. Understanding where we came from helps explain where we're going.

CyberElegans (2010-2014)

Repository: openworm/CyberElegans

What it was: Our original neuromechanical prototype demonstrating feasibility — the first proof that coupling neurons, muscles, and body physics in a computer could produce locomotion-like behavior.

Watch the CyberElegans prototype

What it proved:

  • SPH is the right approach for body physics (now formalized in DD003)
  • Graded synapses match C. elegans biology better than spiking models (now formalized in DD001)
  • Muscle calcium is the coupling variable between neural and mechanical domains (now formalized in DD002)

Current status: Superseded by DD001–DD003 (the formal, validated core chain). Preserved as historical reference and DD017 comparison point.

See today's version: Sibernetic (body physics) and c302 (neural modeling)

Geppetto Web Platform (2014-2020)

Repository: openworm/org.geppetto

Website: geppetto.org

What it was: A Java-based, open-source modular platform for multi-scale and multi-algorithm interactive simulation of biological systems. Featured WebGL visualization, OSGi modularity, and Tomcat deployment.

Technologies: Java, OSGi, Spring Framework, Three.js, WebGL, Maven, Eclipse Virgo

What it achieved:

  • Proved web-based simulation visualization was possible
  • Grew into a general-purpose platform used by other neuroscience projects
  • Demonstrated multi-algorithm integration concepts that inform DD013

Why the evolution: DD014 (Dynamic Visualization) chose Trame (Python + PyVista) over Geppetto because:

  • Geppetto is Java-based — most OpenWorm contributors write Python
  • Requires a server process per client — doesn't scale for public viewer
  • Not updated for WebGPU — the next generation of browser graphics
  • Trame is lighter, Python-native, and actively maintained

Current status: Dormant in OpenWorm (last commit ~2020). Still maintained upstream at geppetto.org. Could be re-evaluated if needs change.

See today's version: Geppetto project page (historical context and DD014 evolution roadmap)

What replaced it: DD014 specifies a 3-phase evolution:

  1. Phase 1: Trame viewer (PyVista + live server)
  2. Phase 2: Interactive layers with validation overlays
  3. Phase 3: Three.js + WebGPU static site at wormsim.openworm.org (WormSim 2.0)

movement_validation (Original Analysis Toolbox)

Repository: openworm/movement_validation (archived)

What it was: Original Python port of the Schafer lab's MATLAB behavioral analysis code. Used to compare simulated worm behavior against the WormBehavior database.

What it achieved:

  • Established the principle of quantitative behavioral validation
  • Ported key feature extraction algorithms from MATLAB to Python

Current status: Superseded by open-worm-analysis-toolbox, which is being revived per DD021. The toolbox revival is an infrastructure priority, as it enables Tier 3 behavioral validation.

See today's version: Movement Analysis project page

NeuroConstruct Connectome

What it was: The original 3D anatomical model of the C. elegans nervous system in NeuroML format, loaded and simulated via NeuroConstruct + NEURON.

What it evolved into: c302 — the current multi-scale modeling framework specified by DD001. c302 generates NeuroML2 networks at multiple biophysical detail levels (A-D) and uses ConnectomeToolbox (cect) for data access (DD020).

See today's version: c302 project page

Connectome Engine / Lego Robot

What it was: A simplified version of the C. elegans connectome integrated into a Lego Mindstorms EV3 robot, demonstrating that connectome-derived dynamics could control physical movement.

Watch the Lego robot in action

What it proved: Connectome-derived neural dynamics can produce meaningful sensorimotor behavior even in a simplified robot body.

Current status: Historical demonstration. The underlying principle (connectome-driven behavior) is now formalized in DD001 + DD019 (closed-loop touch response).

See today's version: C. elegans Robots project page

Pattern

Each archived project follows the same story:

  1. Prototype proved a concept (2011-2016)
  2. Concept was formalized into Design Documents (2018-2026)
  3. Design Documents now specify quantitative acceptance criteria that the prototypes never had

The journey from "cool demo" to "validated engineering blueprint" is what makes OpenWorm's current approach fundamentally different from where we started.

See Design Documents for the current formal specifications.

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