Getting started with Constraint Programming

Question

Looking for tips, tutorials, books and other resources to get started with Constraint Programming.

Answer 1

I recommend getting started with mozart. It is an open-source constraint programming language and the site has plenty of documentation that will get you started.

Answer 2

Maybe you can have a look at an introductory course thought at the Saarland University about constraint programming. They do not use mozart as dr_pepper said but Gecode. Gecode is a follow-up language of mozart, implemented partly by the same people.

Answer 3

There is a lot of excellent material available on the web once you get in the groove, but the links below are (IMO) good starting points (the ones I used).

Programming with Constraints: An Introduction - (Course website)
Programming with Constraints: An Introduction - (Google book)
Online Guide to Constraint Programming
CSP Tutorial (4C Outreach Programme)

Answer 4

The handbook of constraint programming is well thought of.

In trivia, my supervisor from fourth year university (which was a while ago now) is referenced there. :)

Answer 5

If you're a Java programmer, I recommend using Cream: Class Library for Constraint Programming

Answer 6

Here is another link to a course website on Constraint Programming.

Earlier the course used Mozart/Oz for the assingments but it has now been replaced by Gecode.

Answer 7

Constraint Handling Rules (CHR) is a language to develop own (problem specific) constraint solvers. Check this:

• CHR Homepage

There you find links to

• WebCHR Online Demo (originally developed at LMU Munich, now beautified at Uni Ulm)
• Several implementations for Prolog (naturally) and Haskell, as well as a (unfortunately unmaintained) prototype for Java (JCK).

Answer 8

Microsoft's Solver Foundation has some easy-to-understand examples.