Fig. 1.

Vivarium’s model interface, illustrating the formal structure of the framework. (a) A Process, shown as a rectangular flowchart symbol, is a modular models that contain the parameters, an update function and ports. (b) A Store, shown as the flowchart symbol for a database, holds the state variables and schemas that determines how to handle updates. (c) Composites are bundles of processes and stores wired together by a bipartite network called a topology, with processes connecting to stores through their ports. (d) Compartments are processes and stores connected across a single level. Processes can be wired across compartments through boundary stores. (e) Compartments are embedded in a hierarchy—depicted as a hierarchical network with discrete layers. Outer compartments are shown above and inner compartments below