What is JMRI?

JMRI 2.9.10 Development Version Released on July 11, 2010. This is the tenth of a series working toward an eventual JMRI 2.10/3.0 production version in Summer 2010. For more information on this test release, please read the JMRI 2.9.10 Release Note, which also contains the download links. Version 2.10 is the current "production" version, recommended for first-time users.

JMRI 2.10 Production Version Released on July 13, 2010. JMRI 2.10 is recommended for new users. It's the most recent stable production version. New features include: Many improvements to throttles, particularly wireless ones Many new and improved DecoderPro decoder definitions New support for "aspect signaling", which drives an entire mast at once More flexible preferences, accessed through a much better window. Improvements to layout and panel editor For more information, please read the JMRI 2.10 Release Note, which also contains the download links.

KAM Dispute Ends!

JMRI is an informal open-source software group. We do this for the joy of model railroading, and don't produce anything for profit.

One of our members has spent the past four years in the Federal Courts defending our right to continue against an individual who has attacked us with bogus patent threats, cybersquatting, copyright infringement and other illegal acts.

We are extremely pleased to announce that this case has now been settled. The agreement ends the dispute, and gives everybody involved a way to move forward. This is a victory for JMRI and open-source software in general.

The only task left is raising the money to pay off the accumulated bills and debt. Please donate -- $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or more -- so we can get back to creating great software for model railroading!

JMRI at NMRA Milwaukee Convention

We're planning a complete set of JMRI clinics at the NMRA 2010 convention in Milwaukee (July 11-18), along with our traditional user get-together.

For more information, please see the schedule page. Hope to see you there!

Use your internet phone as a throttle!

You can now use your iPhone, iPod Touch or Android cell phone as a throttle with JMRI.

After you download and install a program onto your phone, you can connect it wirelessly to your computer running JMRI, which in turn will run your layout. Imagine friends visting your layout and running trains from their cellphones, without having to bring throttles.

For more information, please see the feature page.

DecoderPro and Monday Night at the Movies

Joe Fugate filmed some of the JMRI clinics at the NMRA 2008 Anaheim meeting for Model Railroad Hobbyist emagazine. They're now running the DecoderPro clinics as part of their "Monday Night at the Movies" series on the Model Railroad Hobbyist web site. It's a great way to see the clinics if you couldn't get to the NMRA convention!

XTrkCad and JMRI

XTrkCad is a great, free tool for designing your layout that's being developed by a group of model railroaders.

XtrkCadReader is a new JMRI tool built by Giorgio Terdina to take layout information created by XTrkCad (XTC files) and convert it to a form that JMRI can read (XML files).

This tool lets you import your physical layout design from XTrkCad directly into JMRI so you can easily set up controls for the layout you've built.

Finding Fellow JMRI Users

The best way to learn about JMRI is often from somebody in your own area. There's a lot about it that's just easier to demonstrate than to describe over email. JMRI users (and model railroaders in general) tend to be helpful, interesting people, and are often amazingly helpful. But how to find somebody local?

We've set up a "Frappr" web site that lets JMRI users mark where they're located so others can get in touch. People can add themselves to it pretty easily. If enough people do that, it'll be a useful tool when looking for somebody in your local area. More here..

Help Pages Online

The JMRI applications have a built-in help system. It has lots of information, including overviews and window-specific information. The pages are simple HTML, and users are encouraged to add missing information. The help information is available online via either the index or table of contents.

CATS

The Crandic Automated Traffic System (CATS) is a JMRI-based application by Rodney Black for controlling and operating a model railroad. There's more information on the CATS web site.

JMRI wins Duke's Choice award from Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems has awarded JMRI a 2006 Duke's Choice award. Also called a "Dukie", this award is given annually to "some of the most clever, practical, and inspirational Java technology applications on the planet". The award was presented at the annual JavaOne conference on May 14th by James Gosling.

JMRI won for it's community, it's use of Java technology to empower people all over the world to contribute, and for the impact it's had.

(Press release)

New Wiki provides additional information

A Wiki is an online tool for gathering, organizing and presenting information. The best known is Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. JMRI now has a Wiki of it's own where users can add their own hints and tips, look up information they need, and build an ever-increasing set of documentation for each other.

You can start at the top page.

Check out the new "clinics" page!

Several users have contributed their clinics for our new clinics page. There are both conventional handouts and slides, and also some neat interactive clinics for DecoderPro® and PanelPro™.

Decoder ID pages

A new "Decoder ID" page has been added to the web. Automagically created from the current DecoderPro definitions, it provides easy access to all sorts of information about decoders.

Contribute more information to our decoder definitions, and help these pages become even more useful!