EPICpy

A Python Interface for EPIC Computational Cognitive Modeling

Travis L. Seymour, PhD

Seymour, T. L., (2022). EPICpy: A Python Interface for EPIC Computational Cognitive Modeling. Journal of Open Source Software, 7(76), 4533, https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.04533

Background - Previous Way to Model Using EPIC

EPIC is a computational cognitive architecture that specifies a theory of human performance and a facility to create individual task models constrained by that theory. EPIC compacts decades of psychological theory and findings into a rich set of processors and interactions, including those that model sensory perceptual, motor, cognitive, and memory subsystems of the human mind.

EPIC currently exists as an integration between a computational version of the architecture written in C++ (EPIClib) and a GUI-based simulation environment that uses it, also written in C++ (EPICapp). EPIC only runs on MacOS, and some tasks (e.g., writing virtual tasks, or perceptual encoders) requires knowledge of the C++ programming language.

EPICpy - A New Way To Do EPIC Modeling Using Python

EPICpy is a cross-platform Python-based interface to EPIClib that allows programming task devices and perceptual encoders in the Python programming language. However, EPIClib itself is still coded in C++ that is compiled into a Python library using Pybind11.

This repository contains the source code for EPICpy.

For more information:

Detailed EPICpy Documentation

Project Sources

• EPICpy Source Repository (this repository)
• EPICpy Documentation Repository

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Monday March 24, 2025 As of version 2025.3.25.1, those who have existing copies of the epicpydevice folder, will need to update one of its files:

• Open epicpydevice/epicpydevicebase.py in a text editor.
• Replace the existing definition of the write method with this one:

python def write(self, text: str): """ Device write method for text that adds newlines properly. This will be dynamically added to the device object after it has been loaded and instantiated. """ self.parent.write(text, copy_to_trace=True)

EPCpy Installation

System Requirements for EPICpy

• git: Git is a distributed version control system.

  • Linux: You almost certainly have this. Otherwise run sudo apt install git.
  • Windows: Use the installer at https://git-scm.com/
  • MacOS: Use the installer at https://git-scm.com/, or run xcode-select --install, or install Homebrew and then run brew install git.

• uv: uv is a Python package and project manager.

• xcb: Library implementing the client-side of the X11 display server protocol.

  • Linux Only: sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0

Python Requirements for EPICpy

• EPICpy requires Python 3.10 (Linux and MacOS) or Python 3.9 (Windows). You will need the path to the appropriate version of Python.
  • run uv python list and copy the path to the Python version you need, e.g., on my Linux install, I can use /usr/bin/python3.10.
  • If you don't see an entry for Python 3.10 (Linux & MacOS) or Python 3.9, you can install the version you need:
  • uv python install 3.10 (Linux & MacOS) or uv python install 3.9 (Windows), and then run uv python list to jot down the path to Python.

Install EPICpy

On Linux & MacOS:

bash uv tool install git+https://www.github.com/travisseymour/EPICpy.git --python [PATH_TO_YOUR_PYTHON_310]

On Windows:

bash uv tool install git+https://www.github.com/travisseymour/EPICpy.git --python [PATH_TO_YOUR_PYTHON_39]

For example,

```bash

Linux or MacOS

uv tool install git+https://www.github.com/travisseymour/EPICpy.git --python /usr/bin/python3.10

Windows

uv tool install git+https://www.github.com/travisseymour/EPICpy.git --python AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\python.exe ```