[SciPy-User] Constrained optimization algorithm for layout?

[Robert Kern]

On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 7:20 PM, raghavan <vidya.setlur at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to create an arrangement of several UI objects in a layout,
each having their own constraints in terms of how they need to be placed
and aligned. What optimization algorithm would be useful for an application
like this?

A specialized version of linear programming works well. Cassowary is the
most widely used solver for this; it implements linear programming with a
hierarchy of constraints. An implementation of Cassowary is used in Apple's
new Auto Layout mechanism.

  http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/constraints/cassowary/

I have Cython bindings to the Cassowary solver here:

  https://pypi.python.org/pypi/casuarius

Casuarius is used in the layout mechanism of Enaml:

  https://github.com/nucleic/enaml/tree/master/enaml/layout

A slightly different variant is the Auckland Layout Model, which uses a
standard linear programming solver without hierarchies (though it does
require one that is optimized for restarts):

  http://aucklandlayout.sourceforge.net/

--
Robert Kern
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