# Bonsai: An event-based framework for processing and controlling data streams

## TL;DR

Bonsai is a new software framework designed to handle complex data streams in scientific experiments, especially in neuroscience.

## Contribution

Bonsai introduces a modular, high-performance, open-source visual programming framework for asynchronous data stream processing.

## Key findings

- Bonsai's architecture supports the control and monitoring of parallel data streams in scientific experiments.
- Applications developed using Bonsai have been successfully used in a neuroscience research institute over one year.

## Abstract

The design of modern scientific experiments requires the control and monitoring of many parallel data streams. However, the serial execution of programming instructions in a computer makes it a challenge to develop software that can deal with the asynchronous, parallel nature of scientific data. Here we present Bonsai, a modular, high-performance, open-source visual programming framework for processing data streams. We will describe Bonsai’s core principles and architecture while specifically highlighting some of the applications that were developed during one year of use in an active neuroscience research institute.