Hey Robin,

Using Devices in NEST is currently under reconstruction. Mainly, we are thinking of not considering the devices to be part of the network, but rather an extension of the neuron that will be attached dynamically at runtime.

So basically the problem of knowing if the device is a receiver or sender (i.e, being on the left or side of the Connect call) won't be an issue anymore, as devices won't be connected at all!

Best,

Ayssar

From: Robin Gilbert De Schepper <robingilbert.deschepper@unipv.it>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 4:20:31 PM
To: NEST User Mailing List
Subject: [NEST Users] Handle input/output relation of device to node connection

Hello NEST users,

I'm trying to connect some devices in a black box manner and run into this error:

```

nest.lib.hl_api_exceptions.NESTErrors.IllegalConnection: IllegalConnection in SLI function Connect_g_g_D_D: Creation of connection is not possible because:
Source node does not send output.
Note that recorders must be connected as Connect(neuron, recorder).

```

Is there a way for me to inspect whether I should nest.Connect(A, B) or nest.Connect(B, A), or should I catch this error and try the inverse? Is this the only `IllegalConnection` error that can be thrown, or should I parse the error message? (which is prone to changes)

Robin De Schepper, MSc (they/them)

Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences

Unit of Neurophysiology

University of Pavia, Italy

Via Forlanini 6, 27100 Pavia - Italy

Tel: (+39) 038298-7607

http://www-5.unipv.it/dangelo/