NIST releases two public-domain software libraries for algorithm evaluation and development

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released two public-domain software libraries intended to support programmers and researchers in developing and evaluating algorithms. The first, Affinis, is a suite of algorithms designed to serve as foundational building blocks for software programs. The second, Contingency, provides tools to measure how well algorithms perform, enabling users to assess their effectiveness in specific applications.

According to NIST, the libraries are intended to be used together. Programmers can integrate Affinis algorithms into their applications and use Contingency to evaluate their performance, ensuring that the resulting software meets functional requirements. NIST highlights potential applications in fields such as manufacturing, epidemiology, scientific research, and wildfire monitoring, where reliable algorithmic tools are in demand.

Rachael Sexton, a NIST mechanical engineer featured in the announcement, emphasized the value of open-source contributions in the public domain. She noted that making software freely accessible encourages broader adoption, collaboration, and innovation among developers and researchers. The libraries are designed to be accessible and easy to use, lowering technical barriers for teams working on domain-specific solutions.

NIST frames these libraries as part of its broader mission in human factors engineering and human systems integration, which focuses on how humans and machines interact. By providing standardized algorithmic tools, the agency aims to improve the safety, reliability, and usability of systems that rely on software, particularly in public-interest domains.