Main technical features and functionalities
NetLogo runs on almost any current computer. The main application requirements are the following:
Windows environment
- NetLogo runs on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Vista. NetLogo 5.2.1 was the last version to support Windows XP and Windows 2000.
- The NetLogo installer for Windows includes Java 8 for NetLogo’s private use only. No other programs on the computer are affected.
Mac OS X environment
- Mac OS X 10.8.3 or newer is required. (NetLogo 5.1 was the last version to support 10.5 and 10.4; NetLogo 5.2.1 was the last version to support 10.6 and 10.7)
- As in the case for Windows, the NetLogo application contains a distribution of the Java 8 runtime for NetLogo’s private use only. Other programs on your computer will not be affected.
Linux environment
- NetLogo should work on standard Debian-based and Red Hat-based Linux distributions. The NetLogo tarball includes a copy of the Java 8 runtime.
32-bit or 64-bit?
- For non-advanced users on Linux or Windows, the 32-bit version of NetLogo is the simplest way to a working NetLogo installation.
- The primary advantage of the 64-bit version is the ability to add additional heap space by changing the “-Xmx” JVM option. To run 64-bit NetLogo, you must be running a 64-bit operating system.
NetLogo is easy to use by non-advanced users.

Examples on how to use them to analyse Complex Systems
In this model, a container is divided by a semipermeable membrane (the red squares) with blue circles representing solvent molecules (water in this model) that can pass freely through the membrane. At setup, 1000 of these solvent molecules are created and randomly distributed throughout the container. White circles represent particles of added solute that cannot pass through the membrane.

As the model runs, particles move through the container based on kinetic molecular theory using NetLogo code. At each tick, the membrane moves according to the difference in the number of solvent molecules moving from left to right and those moving from right to left. Thus, it is observed that the solvent (water) is moving towards the side of higher solute concentration.

The utilization of osmosis technology for wastewater treatment has drawn great interest, due to its high separation efficiency, low membrane fouling propensity, high water recovery and relatively low energy consumption. Thus, students' understanding the phenomenon of osmosis is crucial for their career.

The model is intended to help students understand that the membrane-crossing probability of water molecules depends solely on their concentrations on both sides of the membrane. It helps students’ systems thinking (investigating a complex system as a whole and understanding the relationships within a system) avoiding the use of teleological or anthropomorphic explanations.

Kottonau, J. (2011). An interactive computer model for improved student understanding of random particle motion and osmosis. Journal of Chemical Education, 88(6), 772-775.