[gecode-users] Randomness in Branching

[Guido Tack]

Jeffrey wrote:

> As there could be a lot of solutions in an CSP, i'm looking for a  
> way to inject randomness during the branching so that the first  
> solution everytime I get is random.
>
> I found a post in June 6 saying that a random branching will be  
> provided in Gecode 3.0.x.
> Is that true?

Yes.  Random branchings (both variable and value selection) are  
available in the current trunk of Gecode.  This will become Gecode  
3.0.0 in a couple of weeks (we'll let you know some more details about  
the planned release next week).

> Secondly, before Gecode 3.0.x is avaliable, is there any other way I  
> could make it with Gecode 2.2.x?
> Say, associating a random no. with each branching variable and have  
> someway to ask Gecode to consider that random no. during branching?

I wouldn't bother with modifying 2.2.x now, and instead move to the  
trunk.  It's pretty stable already, we're mainly working on minor  
things that won't change the API, and on documentation.

Cheers,
	Guido