[gecode-users] Saving memory with IntVarArrays

[Malcolm Ryan]

A question about IntVarArrays:

I have a large CSP that I have coded to be constructed incrementally  
as the search proceeds to reduce memory usage. To simplify, lets say  
that I have an array of N variables for some large N, and each one is  
constrained by some relationship with its neighbours. Rather than  
create all N variables and N-1 constraints immediately, I create and  
constrain variables incrementally once the previous variable has been  
assigned. (My real situation is actually more complex than this, but  
my question remains the same).

Currently, I create an IntVarArray as:

vars = IntVarArray(space, N);

and then incrementally create variables as:

vars[t] = IntVar(space, domainSet);

My question is: does this actually save memory? I assume that creating  
the array created N 'uninitialised' IntVars. Are these variables  
significantly smaller than initialised IntVars? Or is this a false  
saving? Would I be better to create a smaller IntVarArray and replace  
it with an incrementally longer one as variables are created?

Thanks,

Malcolm