Some years ago, we developed an Excel tool that uses the Solver add-in. Now we have to redesign the tool and port it to the web. What are the options in terms of linear programming routines/libraries/modules etc.?
The optimisation (linear programming, LP) problems solved by our tool use the simplex algorithm and fit within the limits of the Excel Solver (typically less than 50 decision variables). It has input forms for data, the user presses the "Optimise" button, the tool does its calculations and it outputs results and charts. The LP model is quite simple. The version made in Excel uses VBA and the integration of the Solver add-in is straigthforward. Now we have to write specifications for the new version, which will be entirely redesigned and developed by a third party as a website (making it a standalone app for tablets/smartphones is not being considered right now). The tool is highly specific, targeted at people with no math/science/computer background at all, and we do not expect a huge traffic (on the magnitude of tens of hits per day, not thousands). Using it will be free (sort of) for users, and it won't be for academic purposes (so it's non-academic and non-commercial).
What we need is a LP library that will replace the Excel Solver to do more or less the same thing: read a linear model, output the optimal solution (or a message if no solution is found) and a sensitivity analysis.
- the library will be installed on the website server and accessible through whatever is used to develop a modern web interface (javascript, PHP etc.).
- it has to be of professional quality, ie it should be sturdy, reliable, and well documented (ie we don't want to hunt down answers in remote corners of the internet on how to do/fix stuff)
- it should be preferably free (as beer) but paying for a one-time license is possible.
The project is in its early stages, so it's mostly an exploratory question for now. There are lots of LP libraries and tools out there, from free to highly expensive ones (we're working with Xpress on other projects so we know how costly those things are), and... it's a little overwhelming, so I'd appreciate some pointers about where to start, at least about what we should pay attention to when choosing such a library. |
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