Are we building the right user-level documentation?

Collaborative research among scientists requires the use of increasinglyinterconnected software and tool chains. In neuroscience, several softwareframeworks for simulation technology, visualisation, and analysis aim to operatewithin the digitized workflow of researchers and integrate with each other.To ensure researchers can effectively carry out their work within theseincreasingly complex software frameworks, these software must provide theright user-level documentation. Additionally, concepts for an effective user-leveldocumentation need to be developed as part of the European Human BrainProject as we approach the completion of an ICT infrastructure for neuroscience.Researchers therefore need to understand weather HBP’s current ideas aresuitable to create a worthwhile user-level experience that can disseminate therequired knowledge to the community.At this EITN workshop, current and prospective users of the simulation enginesNEST, SpiNNaker and BrainScaleS will have the opportunity to share theirexperience with the software, and provide feedback and ideas regarding user-level documentation. The aim is to integrate the larger user community intothe development process of the documentation and better understanduser perspectives and usage of neuroscientific software and tools