Awesome Complexity 
A curated list of resources related to complex systems, the scientific field studying systems with multiple interacting parts and emergent properties.
Complex Systems
GitHub repository ↗ synced 2026/8/9
Awesome Complexity
Concepts
Attractor
A trajectory in the state space of a system in which it tends to evolve towards.
Autopoiesis
The ability of a system to create and maintain itself.
Chaos
Theory of chaotic systems.
Complexity
The subject of complex systems science.
Developmental Systems Theory
Theoretical perspective on biological development, heredity, and evolution.
Dissipative System
A thermodynamically open system far from thermodynamic equilibrium.
Distributed Control
A control system without a central supervisor.
Edge of Chaos
The transition zone between order and disorder.
Emergence
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Fractal
Self-similar structure.
Hysteresis
Dependence of the state of a system on its history.
Network/Graph
Network with non-trivial topological features.
Phase Transition
Transition between states of matter.
Robustness
Ability to tolerate perturbations.
Self-Organization
The process where form arises from local interactions between parts of an initially disordered system.
Simulation
Imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system.
- Holon - System that is both a whole and a part.
Scientific Journals
Complexity
Cross-disciplinary journal about complex adaptive systems (open access).
Blogs/Journals
The Systems Thinker
Articles with a systems perspective on various topics.
Complexity Digest
News feed on complexity.
Fractal forums
Forum and discussion community about fractals.
Societies/Communities
Complex Systems Society
Scientific society for the study of complex systems.
Complexity research
Informal slack community for keeping up to date with new findings in complex systems research.
Complexity Adventures
Complexity community of practice (formerly known as Complexity Weekend).
Organizations
New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI)
Independent academic research and educational institution.
The Vermont Complex Systems Center
Research and educational center (University of Vermont).
Santa Fe Institute
Independent research and education center.
Institut rhônalpin des systèmes complexes - IXXI
Research center (ENS Lyon).
Waterloo Institute for Complexity & Innovation (WICI)
Research center (University of Waterloo).
Institut des Systèmes Complexes - Paris Ile-de-France (ISC-PIF)
An inter-institutional organization (CNRS unit) on complex systems research.
Models
Boids
Emergent flocking behavior.
Cellular automata
Discrete compuation model.
Elementary cellular automaton
One-dimensional cellular automata.
Game of Life
Two-dimensional cellular automaton with emergent life-like patterns.
Double pendulum
Chaotic motion.
Kuramoto model
Synchronization.
Barabási–Albert (BA) model
Algorithm for generating random graphs with preferential attachment.
Schelling's model
Agent-based model for segregation.
Ising model
Simple model that can show phase transitions.
Reaction-diffusion
Self-organization and pattern formation model.
Abelian sandpile model
Model showing self-organized criticality.
- Craig Reynolds' Boids page - The creator's webpage with lots of links to multiple implementations.
- ConwayLife - Community for game-of-life and similar simulations.
- golly - State-of-the-art simulator.
- Lenia - Continuous generalization of the game of life.
Software
Freely to use or open source
NetLogo
Multi-agent modeling environment based on the LOGO language. It comes with a very large library of toy models.
Simulus
ABM library in Python.
Swarm
A platform for agent-based models written in Objective-C, models are coded in Java or Objective-C.
Repast
Agent-based modeling and simulation platforms, models coded in C++ and Java.
MASON
Multiagent simulation library core in Java.
HASH
Graph and agent simulation platform.
Hybrid Automata Library
Java library for hybrid modeling combining agent-based and partial-differential equation components.
Proprietary
Stella
Modelling and interactive simulations.
Ventity/Vensim
Simulation software.
Cosmo Tech platform
Digital twins simulator software.
Other Resources
Complexity Explorer
Educational site with news/blog.
Map of Complex systems History
An impressive overview of the evolution of complex systems thinking.
Stanford Complexity Group
YouTube channel with videos from the group's events.
Awesome Network Analysis
Resources for analysis of network data.
Complexity Explained
Interactive educational website.
Books
Wiener, N. (2016). Cybernetics or control and communication in the animal and the machine.
The book introduced the term cybernetics to describe a self-regulation mechanism.
Scheffer, M. (2009). Critical transitions in nature and society. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.
A nicely written and accessible description of the critical transition and related concepts.
Nicolis, G., Basios, V., & (Firm), W. S. (2015). Chaos, information processing and paradoxical games: the legacy of John S. Nicolis. Singapore; Hackensack, N.J.: World Scientific Pub. Co.
An edited volume of studies honoring the legacy of John Nicolis contribution to complex systems.
Newman, M. E. J. (2010). Networks: an introduction. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
A comprehensive introduction to network science.
Mitchell, S. D. (2013). Unsimple truths: science, complexity, and policy. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
The book introduces the perspective of integrative puralism as a way of understanding and studying the world.
Maturana, H. R., & Varela, F. J. (2008). The tree of knowledge: the biological roots of human understanding. Boston: Shambhala.
The book is an exposition of the non-representational vew of knowledge.
Mandelbrot, B. (2006). The fractal geometry of nature. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Beautiful introduction to the world of fractals.
Kauffman, S. (2014). At Home in the Universe The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity. Cary: Oxford University Press, USA.
The book introduces in an accessible way the influence of concepts such as self-organization and the edge of chaos.
Gros, C. (2015). Complex and adaptive dynamical systems: a primer. Cham: Springer.
Technical and accessible introduction to a number of important concepts in complex systems science.
Downey, A. (2012). Think complexity. Needham, Massachusetts: Green Tea Press.
A hands-on approach exploring complex systems models with Python.
Boccara, N. (2014). Modeling complex systems. Springer-Verlag New York.
An overview of important mathematical models of complex systems.
Barrat, A., Barthelemy, M., & Vespignani, A. (2013). Dynamical processes on complex networks. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Dynamic models on complex networks.