The analysis of nonlinear systems can be greatly improved using computer software. In this work the Sridhar nonlinearity is described, and a new parameterization is given that allows to systematically obtain a large number of the classical piecewise nonlinearities as particular cases. The calculation of limit cycles using the describing function (DF) approach for the case of autonomous nonlinear control systems and an event-based simulation method are presented and compared. Finally, a user-friendly, graphically oriented interactive tool based on Sysquake is presented. In this way the students can easily assimilate some concepts of introductory courses in nonlinear control such as the behavior of piecewise linear systems, stable and unstable limit cycles, event-based simulation and the DF method.