[SciPy-User] Non-science BPP problem

[alex]

On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 12:58 PM,  <scipy-user-request at scipy.org> wrote:
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2014 11:57:59 -0500
> From: John Obelenus <jobelenus at gmail.com>
> Subject: [SciPy-User] Non-science BPP problem
> To: scipy-user at scipy.org
>
> [Noob Trigger Warning]
>
> Hey everyone, I'm your standard python programmer that realizes I have a
> variation of a Bin Packing Problem on my hands. I turn to you for your help
> in understanding how to use the wonders of your math packages to solve the
> BPP. I saw that `openopt` has a simple and extended BPP solver, but I am
> open for whatever python package is going to get the job done.
>
> I realize this isn't your standard scipy user mailing, as I'm looking for
> help just getting started on how to address/specify my problem so that the
> package can solve it. I took a shot at the archives here but it seems
> everyone else here is far past my level. If anyone has good introductory
> resources that can get me from where I am now (understanding that I have a
> Bin Packing Problem and generally how that works) to solving it
> (specifically, how to use the packages and implement my data to the solver
> to get a coherent answer) that would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks for your time
> -A Humble Non-Science Programmer

Although the scipy library can solve some least squares problems and
some local optimization of smooth functions, it currently doesn't do
combinatorial optimization.  It doesn't even have a linear programming
solver.