Brain-inspired computing is a computing model and architecture that has the potential to break the von Neumann bottleneck1 and drive the next wave of computer engineering2. Brain-inspired computing systems have been used for artificial intelligence, and may provide a route towards artificial general intelligence15. The application of brain-inspired computing to more general algorithms, other than artificial intelligence, has also been explored. All these applications present challenges for the performance, programmability and productivity of brain-inspired computing systems.