Introducing esra, a Relational Language for Modelling Combinatorial Problems

Current-generation constraint programming languages are considered by many, especially in industry, to be too low-level, difficult, and large. We argue that solver-independent, high-level relational constraint modelling leads to a simpler and smaller language, to more concise, intuitive, and analysable models, as well as to more efficient and effective model formulation, maintenance, reformulation, and verification. All this can be achieved without sacrificing the possibility of efficient solving, so that even time-pressed or less competent modellers can be well assisted. Towards this, we propose the esra relational constraint modelling language, showcase its elegance on some well-known problems, and outline a compilation philosophy for such languages.

[1]  Ivar Jacobson,et al.  The unified modeling language reference manual , 2010 .

[2]  J. Michael Spivey,et al.  The Z notation - a reference manual , 1992, Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science.

[3]  Ilkka Niemelä,et al.  Logic programs with stable model semantics as a constraint programming paradigm , 1999, Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence.

[4]  Pascal Van Hentenryck,et al.  Tractable Symmetry Breaking for CSPs with Interchangeable Values , 2003, IJCAI.

[5]  Mats Carlsson,et al.  An Open-Ended Finite Domain Constraint Solver , 1997, PLILP.

[6]  F. Ambert,et al.  Programmation en logique avec contraintes sur ensembles et multi-ensembles héréditairement finis , 1996 .

[7]  Pierre Flener,et al.  Compiling High-Level Type Constructors in Constraint Programming , 2001, PADL.

[8]  Brahim Hnich,et al.  Function Variables for Constraint Programming , 2003 .

[9]  Agostino Dovier,et al.  Sets and constraint logic programming , 2000, TOPL.

[10]  Edward Tsang,et al.  A Computer Aided Constraint Programming System , 2001 .

[11]  Timothy J. Hickey.  Functional Constraints in CLP Languages , 1991, WCLP.

[12]  Carmen Gervet,et al.  Interval propagation to reason about sets: Definition and implementation of a practical language , 1997, Constraints.

[13]  Toby Walsh,et al.  Permutation Problems and Channelling Constraints , 2001, LPAR.

[14]  Maurice Bruynooghe,et al.  Ultimate Well-Founded and Stable Semantics for Logic Programs with Aggregates , 2001, ICLP.

[15]  Pascal Van Hentenryck.  The OPL optimization programming language , 1999 .

[16]  Manu Sridharan,et al.  A micromodularity mechanism , 2001, ESEC/FSE-9.

[17]  Toby Walsh,et al.  Matrix modelling: Exploiting common patterns in constraint programming , 2002 .

[18]  Steven Minton,et al.  Automatically configuring constraint satisfaction programs: A case study , 1996, Constraints.

[19]  Jean-Louis Laurière,et al.  A Language and a Program for Stating and Solving Combinatorial Problems , 1978, Artif. Intell..

[20]  Luigi Palopoli,et al.  NP-SPEC: an executable specification language for solving all problems in NP , 1999, Comput. Lang..

[21]  Pierre Flener,et al.  The Syntax, Semantics, and Type System of ESRA , 2004 .

[22]  Jianyang Zhou,et al.  Introduction to the constraint language NCL , 2000, J. Log. Program..

[23]  Toby Walsh,et al.  Consistency and Propagation with Multiset Constraints: A Formal Viewpoint , 2003, CP.

[24]  Anneke Kleppe,et al.  The object constraint language: precise modeling with UML , 1998 .

[25]  Vladimir Lifschitz,et al.  Answer set programming and plan generation , 2002, Artif. Intell..

[26]  David Lesaint,et al.  Inferring Constraint Types in Constraint Programming , 2002, CP.

[27]  Victor W. Marek,et al.  Tabular Constraint-Satisfaction Problems and Answer Set Programming , 2001, Answer Set Programming.

[28]  Jean-Raymond Abrial,et al.  The B-book - assigning programs to meanings , 1996 .

[29]  Maurice Bruynooghe,et al.  Extending constraint logic programming with open functions , 2000, PPDP '00.

[30]  François Laburthe,et al.  SALSA: A Language for Search Algorithms , 1998, Constraints.

[31]  Maurice Bruynooghe,et al.  Partial Stable Models for Logic Programs with Aggregates , 2004, LPNMR.