Black-it

About

Black-it is ranked #102 of 106 in statistical analysis software on Inferse. It runs on Linux.

Facts

Purpose

Black-it is a black-box calibration kit for estimating parameters in agent-based models and simulations.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

General use

The package can also optimize built-in or custom models when several search techniques need to be combined.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Calibration process

It samples parameter sets, simulates the model for each set, and evaluates a loss function against real data until convergence or the iteration limit.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Built-in losses

Documented loss functions include MinkowskiLoss, MethodOfMomentsLoss, GslDivLoss, and FourierLoss.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Search methods

Documented samplers include uniform and low-discrepancy methods, plus methods based on prior results such as Gaussian process, XGBoost, random forest, and particle swarm samplers.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Customization

Users can implement custom models, loss functions, and samplers by extending the package’s interfaces.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

External simulators

A Python wrapper can connect an external simulator, including models written in low-level languages or using Mesa, through a language-agnostic interface.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Parallel execution

Model simulation is parallelized by default across the computer’s CPU cores, and the process count can be set with n_jobs.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Checkpointing

When a saving folder is configured, calibration checkpoints are saved after each batch and can be restored to resume an interrupted run.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Requirements

The project requires Python 3.9 or later; the documentation also lists Poetry as a requirement.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Distribution

The package can be installed from PyPI with pip install black-it or directly from its GitHub repository.github.com · 4 Oct 2026

License

Black-it is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 or later (AGPLv3+).bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Support

The project directs users needing support, bug reports, or feature requests to its GitHub Issues page and says other feedback can be sent to an author by email.bancaditalia.github.io · 4 Oct 2026

Intended users

The project describes use across economics, epidemiology, biology, logistics, and other agent-based modeling or simulation research.github.com · 4 Oct 2026

Maker

The project identifies itself as a Bank of Italy research project and says its views are personal, not those of the Bank of Italy.github.com · 4 Oct 2026

Where it ranks on Inferse

• Best Statistical Analysis Software in 2026#102 of 106

Sources

• bancaditalia.github.io/black-it/· checked 4 Oct 2026
• bancaditalia.github.io/black-it/description/· checked 4 Oct 2026
• bancaditalia.github.io/black-it/simulator_interface/· checked 4 Oct 2026
• bancaditalia.github.io/black-it/checkpointing_parallelisation/· checked 4 Oct 2026
• github.com/bancaditalia/black-it· checked 4 Oct 2026
• bancaditalia.github.io/black-it/contributing/· checked 4 Oct 2026