Programming by optimisation: Computer-aided design of high-performance algorithms for hard combinatorial problems

优化编程：针对硬组合问题的高性能算法的计算机辅助设计

• 批准号: 238788-2010
• 负责人: Hoos, HolgerH
• 金额: $ 4.37万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=514399
• 关键词: Programming; optimisation; Computer; aided; design

High-performance algorithms for solving hard computational problems are found at the core of many complex software systems used in real-world applications. The overall goal of my research is to develop and establish a paradigm for the development of such algorithms that I call "programming by optimisation (PBO)". The key idea behind this paradigm is for human experts to specify not an algorithm, but a potentially large design space of algorithms, and to use automated methods to find performance-optimised algorithms within this space. This approach allows human experts to focus on the creative task of thinking about possible mechanisms for solving given problems; at the same time, once a rich and potentially large design space has been specified, the automated search for a performance-optimised algorithm within it can be specific to a particular type of input, such that custom-optimised designs for different application situations can be obtained with minimal human effort.

用于解决复杂计算问题的高性能算法是现实世界应用程序中使用的许多复杂软件系统的核心。我研究的总体目标是开发和建立一种开发这类算法的范例，我称之为“通过优化编程(PBO)”。这一范例背后的关键思想是让人类专家指定的不是一个算法，而是一个潜在的巨大的算法设计空间，并使用自动化方法在这个空间内找到性能优化的算法。这种方法允许人类专家专注于创造性的任务，即思考用于解决给定问题的可能机制；同时，一旦指定了丰富且潜在较大的设计空间，则对其中的性能优化算法的自动搜索可以特定于特定类型的输入，从而可以用最少的人力获得针对不同应用情况的定制优化设计。