Improve docs for guides and getting started

doc/htmldoc/attribution-list.rst

@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ For use in Forschungszentrum Juelich GmBH. Cite the author of the work if using.
 Icons provided by Flaticon
 --------------------------
 
-
 * <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/neuron" title="neuron icons">Neuron icons created by Nadiinko - Flaticon</a>
 * <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/neuron" title="neuron icons">Neuron icons created by Freepik - Flaticon</a>
 * <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/monitor" title="monitor icons">Monitor icons created by Icongeek26 - Flaticon</a>

doc/htmldoc/get-started_index.rst

@@ -1,31 +1,265 @@
 .. _tutorials_guides:
 
-Tutorials and guides
+Tutorials and Guides
 ====================
 
+
+First steps: Learn how to use NEST
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+
+.. grid:: 1 1 3 3
+    :gutter: 1
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+        :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-primary sd-text-white
+
+        |start| PyNEST Tutorial
+        ^^^
+
+        A :ref:`step-by-step tutorial <pynest_tutorial>` that introduces NEST concepts
+        and allows you to develop your first script.
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+        :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-primary sd-text-white
+
+        |write| A basic one neuron example
+        ^^^
+
+        :doc:`One neuron example </auto_examples/one_neuron>`: A breakdown of a basic NEST script using one neuron,
+        to showcase the basic structure of a simulation.
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+        :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-primary sd-text-white
+
+        |interactive| Interactive graphical interface
+        ^^^
+
+        :doc:`NEST Desktop <desktop:index>`: If you prefer a graphical approach, NEST Desktop offers an interactive graphical
+        format for creating neural networks.
+
+Next steps: Create your own network model
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. grid:: 1 1 3 3
+    :gutter: 1
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-info sd-text-white
+         :columns: 4
+
+         |math| Create neurons, synapses, and devices
+         ^^^
+
+         * :ref:`modelsmain`: Discover the available models in NEST
+           or create and customize models with :doc:`NESTML <nestml:index>`
+
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-info sd-text-white
+         :columns: 4
+
+         |random| Connect neurons, synapses, and devices
+         ^^^
+
+         * :ref:`connection_management`: A guide to building connections in NEST
+         * :ref:`spatial_networks`: A deep dive into building 2D and 3D networks
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-info sd-text-white
+         :columns: 4
+
+         |device| Device management
+         ^^^
+
+         * :ref:`stimulate_network`: An overview of how to stimulate the network
+         * :ref:`Get data from simulations <record_simulations>`: How to record data from neurons
+           and synapses
+
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-dark sd-text-white
+
+         |simulate| Simulate your network
+         ^^^
+
+         * :ref:`run_simulations`: A guide describing various factors in running simulations
+         * :ref:`random_numbers`: A guide to how random numbers are used in network simulations
+
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-dark sd-text-white
+
+         |python| Handling nodes and connections
+         ^^^
+
+         * :ref:`Manipulating nodes (neurons and devices) <node_handles>`: understand basic functionality of nodes
+         * :ref:`Manipulating connections (synapses) <handling_connections>`: understand basic functionality of connections
+         * :ref:`param_ex`: explore how to use parameter objects in NEST
+
+
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-dark sd-text-white
+
+         |gallery| Example gallery
+         ^^^
+
+         * Explore our :ref:`PyNEST example networks <pynest_examples>` that showcase the numerous features and models
+           in NEST
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-success sd-text-white
+
+         |network| Large network models
+         ^^^
+
+         Discover how to build large and more complex network models with these examples:
+
+         * :doc:`Brunel network </auto_examples/brunel_alpha_nest>`: A random balanced network
+         * :doc:`The microcircuit  model <../auto_examples/Potjans_2014/index>`: A network model example based on Potjans and Diesman 2014
+         * `The mesocircuit model <https://mesocircuit-model.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`_: A layered cortical network with distance-dependent connectivity
+         * The `multi-area model <https://inm-6.github.io/multi-area-model/>`_: A network model of the visual cortex of the macaque monkey
+
+
+
+    .. grid-item-card::
+         :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-success sd-text-white
+
+         |parallel| Parallel computing
+         ^^^
+
+         * :ref:`parallel_computing`: How NEST handles thread parallel and distributed computing
+
+----
+
+More topics
+~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+
+.. grid:: 1 1 2 3
+   :gutter: 1
+
+   .. grid-item-card::
+       :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-info sd-text-white
+
+       |neuron| More about neurons
+       ^^^
+
+       * :ref:`sim_precise_spike_times`
+       * :ref:`exact_integration`
+
+   .. grid-item-card::
+       :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-info sd-text-white
+
+       |synapse|  More about synapses
+       ^^^
+
+
+       * :ref:`sim_gap_junctions`
+       * :ref:`weight_normalization`
+
+
+
+   .. grid-item-card::
+       :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-info sd-text-white
+
+       |hpc| High performance computers (HPC)
+       ^^^
+
+       * :ref:`optimize_performance`: Guides to optimize NEST performance in large scale simulations
+       * :ref:`built_in_timers`: A guide to the various timers available in NEST
+       * :ref:`benchmark`: How to use the beNNch framework
+
+
+
+
+
+.. grid:: 1 1 2 3
+   :gutter: 1
+
+
+
+   .. grid-item-card::
+       :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-dark sd-text-white
+
+       |connect| Connect to other tools
+       ^^^
+
+       * :ref:`nest_server`: A guide showcasing how to interact with NEST via a RESTful API
+       * :ref:`SONATA with NEST <nest_sonata>`: Guide to using the SONATA format
+       * :ref:`MUSIC Tutorial <music_tutorial_1>`: how to transmit data between applications
+         with the MUSIC interface, step-by-step
+       * :ref:`nest_music`: Additional guide for building scripts with MUSIC
+
+
+   .. grid-item-card::
+       :class-header: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center sd-bg-dark sd-text-white
+
+
+       |refresh| Get the latest changes
+       ^^^
+
+       * :ref:`Update 2.X scripts to 3.X <refguide_2_3>`
+       * :ref:`See the latest changes <whats_new>`
+
+
 .. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 1
    :hidden:
 
    tutorials/index
+   tutorials/pynest_tutorial/index
 
-.. grid:: 1 1 2 2
-    :gutter: 1
-
-    .. grid-item-card:: |nav| Tutorials: Introduction to PyNEST
-       :class-title: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center
-       :link: tutorials
-       :link-type: ref
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 1
+   :hidden:
 
-    .. grid-item-card:: |example| Topical guides
-       :class-title: sd-d-flex-row sd-align-minor-center
-       :link: guides
-       :link-type: ref
+   Neurons <neurons/index>
+   Synapses and connections <synapses/index>
+   Devices  <devices/index>
+   Spatially-structured networks <networks/spatially_structured_networks>
+   High performance computing <hpc/index>
+   NEST models <models/models-main>
+   NEST and SONATA <nest_sonata/nest_sonata_guide>
+   Simulation behavior <nest_behavior/running_simulations>
+   Randomness in NEST <nest_behavior/random_numbers>
+   Built-in timers <nest_behavior/built-in_timers>
+   Connect NEST with other tools <connect_nest/index>
+   From NEST 2.x to 3.x <whats_new/v3.0/refguide_nest2_nest3>
 
 .. toctree::
    :hidden:
 
    understand_index
 
 .. |nav| image:: static/img/GPS-Settings-256_nest.svg
-.. |example| image::  static/img/Documents-02-256_nest.svg
+.. |script| image:: static/img/script_white.svg
+      :scale: 20%
+.. |start| image:: static/img/start_white.svg
+      :scale: 40%
+.. |user| image:: static/img/020-user.svg
+.. |teacher| image:: static/img/014-teacher.svg
+.. |admin| image:: static/img/001-shuttle.svg
+.. |dev| image:: static/img/dev_orange.svg
+.. |nestml| image:: static/img/nestml-logo.png
+      :scale: 15%
+.. |synapse| image:: static/img/synapse_white.svg
+.. |neuron|  image:: static/img/neuron_white.svg
+.. |glossary|  image:: static/img/glossary_white.svg
+.. |git|  image:: static/img/git_white.svg
+.. |refresh|  image:: static/img/refresh_white.svg
+.. |hpc|  image:: static/img/hpc_white.svg
+.. |random|  image:: static/img/random_white.svg
+.. |math|  image:: static/img/math_white.svg
+.. |network|  image:: static/img/network_brain_white.svg
+.. |device|  image:: static/img/device_white.svg
+.. |connect|  image:: static/img/connect_white.svg
+.. |sonata|  image:: static/img/sonata_white.svg
+.. |write|  image:: static/img/write_nest_white.svg
+      :scale: 60%
+.. |parallel| image:: static/img/parallel_white.svg
+.. |simulate| image:: static/img/simulate_white.svg
+.. |interactive| image:: static/img/interactive_white.svg
+.. |python| image:: static/img/python_white.svg
+.. |gallery| image:: static/img/gallery_white.svg

doc/htmldoc/index.rst

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Welcome to the NEST Simulator documentation
        :shadow:
        :color: primary
 
-       Get started with NEST
+       Start exploring NEST
 
   .. grid-item::
 

doc/htmldoc/static/css/custom.css

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
     --nest-dkblue: #072f42;
     --nest-brown: #4b210c;
     --sd-color-primary: var(--nest-orange);
+    --sd-color-secondary: #666;
+    --sd-color-warning: #f22;
     --sd-color-success: var(--nest-brown);
     --sd-color-dark: var(--nest-dkblue);
     --sd-color-primary-highlight: #e05a2d;
@@ -222,7 +224,7 @@ div[role="main"] .md-source {
   border: none;
   opacity: 0.9;
   height: 60px;
-  margin-right: 2em;
+  margin-right: 1.2em;
   margin-bottom: 0.5em;
 
 }