Loopy: a tool for thinking in systems (2017) (opens in new tab)

(ncase.me)

250 points46844997y ago19 comments

19 comments

jshprentz7y ago

Loopy is one of several Explorable Explanations tools [1] that let people interact with models embedded in web pages.

[1]: https://explorabl.es/tools/

victor1067y ago

From two years ago

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13939645

1 more reply

Karrot_Kream7y ago

A much deeper version of the tool using more systems dynamics features is Insight Maker[0]. They're a tool to actually build and simulate real life models in. The UX is a bit more confusing, but the tool is much richer.

[0]: https://insightmaker.com/

jacques_chester7y ago

Slightly annoyingly, Insight Maker supports the core idea of stocks and flows but doesn't really use the stock-and-flow notation.

lapnitnelav7y ago

Here's the source if you want to tinker with it : https://github.com/ncase/loopy

bshipp7y ago

I'm not sure how productive I'll end up being, but it's way more fun to play with than Visio.

ken7y ago

I love it! It's like the simulations of iThink [1], with the "analogic" sketching UI of GRaIL [2].

[1]: https://www.iseesystems.com/store/products/ithink.aspx [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQhVQ1UG6aM

LearnProg177y ago

Could we replace animated arrows between different blocks, to something that is easier to interpret. I had to train my mind to search for negative/positive sign and current state and then add it and say in my mind "encourages doing things".

Instead of "demotivation", you could use "motivation". So that, we wont have to worry about double negatives.

I would prefer to add weights, to the connecting arrows, to give more detail.

rounce7y ago

> I would prefer to add weights, to the connecting arrows, to give more detail.

Second this. The other thing is that your diagram layout is defined by the 'weight' you want to apply to a relationship. Sometimes adding a new, less influential relationship will require moving every other node.

babak_ap7y ago

LOOPY is made by Nicky Case! Author of interesting work such as: The Evolution of Trust (https://ncase.me/trust/), The Wisdom and/or Madness of Crowds (https://ncase.me/crowds/)

mlok7y ago

OMG thank you so much for this, I played the game of trust and I love it !! This is the best way today's tech can help people understand logical / mathematical facts applied to everyday life.

headsoup7y ago

Great tool, though it would be good if you could set rate flow on the items or set quantities, because it gets a little crazy just working off 'events' that perpetuate.

kyoob7y ago

Man, I've been looking for this forever after having seen it a couple of years ago. I just have had no idea how to Google it. Animated flowcharts? Finite automata tool? Anyway, saved to my faves now.

subbu7y ago

Like in process flow diagrams we need different shapes to represent different ideas. Circles alone can't be used for it.

Iv7y ago

I'd love to be able to change the multiplier of arcs through a dynamic quantity. Here we can just state a fixed value on each arc. In dynamic systems, these multipliers change.

harshalizee7y ago

you can. Just add more arrows.

seren7y ago

Nice visualization. Does anyone know something as entertaining to represent Finite State Machine ?

paulorlando7y ago

This is great. Thanks for building it!

dreamcompiler7y ago

I'm a big fan of system dynamics but the gray-on-gray text on the website makes it so hard to read I didn't stay long enough to investigate.

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