Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenModelica VS Wolfram Mathematica

Compare OpenModelica VS Wolfram Mathematica and see what are their differences

OpenModelica logo OpenModelica

OpenModelica – A Free Modelica Environment!

Wolfram Mathematica logo Wolfram Mathematica

Mathematica has characterized the cutting edge in specialized processing—and gave the chief calculation environment to a large number of pioneers, instructors, understudies, and others around the globe.
  • OpenModelica Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Wolfram Mathematica Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-07

OpenModelica features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenModelica is an open-source tool, meaning it is free to use and modify. This allows for extensive customization and community support.
  • Modelica Standard Compliance
    OpenModelica supports the Modelica language, which is a standardized, object-oriented language for modeling complex systems.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The tool is available for various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing flexibility for users across different platforms.
  • Extensive Libraries
    OpenModelica provides access to a wide range of built-in libraries for different domains, such as mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems.
  • Community and Support
    There is an active community of users and developers who contribute to the continuous improvement of OpenModelica and offer support via forums and mailing lists.

Possible disadvantages of OpenModelica

  • User Interface
    The user interface is not as polished or user-friendly as some commercial alternatives, which might make it challenging for beginners.
  • Documentation Quality
    While the tool is well-documented, some users find that the documentation could be more detailed and better structured.
  • Performance
    In some cases, the performance of OpenModelica may not match that of specialized commercial tools, especially for very large and complex models.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to the complexity of the Modelica language and the tool, there can be a steep learning curve for new users who are not already familiar with system modeling.
  • Limited Commercial Support
    As an open-source tool, OpenModelica may lack the level of dedicated commercial support and frequent updates that some users might expect from proprietary software.

Wolfram Mathematica features and specs

  • Comprehensive Functionality
    Wolfram Mathematica offers a broad range of functions in various domains such as numerical computations, symbolic calculations, data visualization, and more.
  • High-Level Programming Language
    The Wolfram Language is a powerful, high-level programming language specifically designed for symbolic computation and algorithmic development.
  • Integrated System
    Mathematica integrates computation, visualization, and data seamlessly, providing an all-in-one system for technical computing.
  • Strong Community & Support
    Mathematica has a robust community of users and excellent support resources, including extensive documentation, user forums, and direct support.
  • Real-World Data Integration
    Integrated access to the Wolfram Knowledgebase allows users to import a vast array of real-world data directly into computations.
  • Interactive Notebooks
    Mathematica's notebook interface allows for interactive document creation, combining calculations, visualizations, narratives, and interactive controls.

Possible disadvantages of Wolfram Mathematica

  • High Cost
    Mathematica is quite expensive, especially for individual users and small businesses, with substantial licensing fees.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software can be difficult to learn for beginners due to its high-level and feature-rich environment.
  • Performance Limitations
    For certain large-scale numerical computations or simulations, Mathematica may underperform compared to specialized numerical software.
  • Closed Source
    Unlike some other computational tools, Mathematica is not open-source, which can be a disadvantage for those who prefer open-source software for flexibility and transparency.
  • Version Compatibility
    There are sometimes compatibility issues between different versions of Mathematica, which can cause problems when sharing code and documents between users with different versions.
  • Hardware Requirements
    Mathematica can be resource-intensive and may require high-performance hardware to run efficiently, especially for complex tasks.

Analysis of OpenModelica

Overall verdict

  • Overall, OpenModelica is a strong choice for users seeking a cost-effective, open-source option for system modeling. Its robust features and active development community contribute to its high regard among users in both academic and industrial settings.

Why this product is good

  • OpenModelica is considered good due to its open-source nature, which allows for customization and flexibility. It supports a wide range of modeling capabilities, especially for multi-domain physical systems. The software is constantly updated by a large community of researchers and developers, who provide support and share improvements. Additionally, it is compliant with the Modelica language, making it a versatile choice for those familiar with Modelica's capabilities.

Recommended for

  • Researchers and academics in need of an open-source tool for detailed system modeling.
  • Engineers and developers familiar with the Modelica language looking for a versatile modeling environment.
  • Organizations and individuals seeking a cost-effective alternative to commercial modeling software.

OpenModelica videos

Simulacion Openmodelica Control de Tanques

More videos:

  • Review - Modelica - Graphical modeling of electric circuits with OpenModelica

Wolfram Mathematica videos

Introduction to Wolfram Notebooks

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenModelica and Wolfram Mathematica)
Technical Computing
12 12%
88% 88
Numerical Computation
12 12%
88% 88
Simulation Software
100 100%
0% 0
3D
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using OpenModelica and Wolfram Mathematica. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenModelica and Wolfram Mathematica

OpenModelica Reviews

We have no reviews of OpenModelica yet.
Be the first one to post

Wolfram Mathematica Reviews

10 Best MATLAB Alternatives [For Beginners and Professionals]
Wolfram Mathematica is packed with features that make your computations super-easy. Mathematica can handle any visualizations or plot with ease.
6 MATLAB Alternatives You Could Use
Deveoped by Wolfram Research, the pioneers of computational software, Mathematica comes with a truckload of features for all your mathematical computational needs. The latest version boasts over 700 new functions, as well as multiple function libraries and geo visualization/animation tools. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From 2D/3D image processing to enhanced...
Source: beebom.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenModelica seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenModelica mentions (7)

  • Modelica
    Obligatory mention to Openmodelica[1] which is an open source implementation based on the Modelica language. While I haven't used it yet, I was planning on exploring some of the features this holiday. [1] https://openmodelica.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • An open source, educational, low-cost modern analog computer
    I have used https://openmodelica.org/. It's another one of those "invest substantial time understanding what they are doing, and you will likely be rewarded." Simple things are simple, but I found it took longer than I would have like to bang out e.g. a PID algo with a particular motor and load. If you want to try this, buy the book, and follow it to the end. Then keep learning, as you build more and more... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Best software for parallel robot simulation?
    If the robot simulation doesn't need to pick up stuff or take into account changing contacts with other objects you can use Modelica's Multibody library which you can run for free with OpenModelica. This will be more accurate than other simulators because modelica can analytically solve the dynamics equations. You don't need to write them either just to connect blocks for various components. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Anyone know if python can be used to make a MATLAB simulink clone (dragging and dropping elements)? If not, do you have recommendations of other languages that can do this best to make a desktop app?
    OpenModelica consists of a combination of graphical and written components to simulate dynamic systems. I don’t know what control system feature set might be available. AMESIM is a more extensive paid tool that operates on the same Modelica modeling language. IIRC, at least Simuscape operates on Modelica under the hood. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Just introduced to diffeq last year. Curious how to go about modeling something like this.
    It shouldn't be too difficult to model in Modelica. You could approximate the pendula in 1D with masses on springs or just use Modelica's multibody library. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Wolfram Mathematica mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Wolfram Mathematica yet. Tracking of Wolfram Mathematica recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenModelica and Wolfram Mathematica, you can also consider the following products

Pspice - OrCAD PSpice technology provides the best, high-performance circuit simulation to analyze and refine your circuits, components, and parameters before committing to layout and fabrication

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

Oregano - oregano - An electrical engineering tool for GNOME

GNU Octave - GNU Octave is a programming language for scientific computing.

Solve Elec - Solve Elec is a free educational program to draw and analyze electrical circuits.

Scilab - Scilab Official Website. Enter your search in the box aboveAbout ScilabScilab is free and open source software for numerical . Thanks for downloading Scilab!