Towards the new modelling language Zinc

Combinatorial optimization problems are usually tackled in two steps: modelling and solving. Three main approaches are used for solving: Mathematical Methods (MM), Constraint Programming (CP) and Local Search (LS). For modelling the main tools are constraint programming languages, constraint programming libraries and (mathematical) modelling languages. Modelling languages provide the best approach to modelling for non-programmers since they do not require sophisticated programming skills. However, current modelling languages are tied to their underlying solvers and cannot support all three solving techniques. This is unfortunate since it is often not clear which technique is most suitable. This paper presents the preliminary design of Zinc, a new solver independent modelling language which is intended to support all three solving techniques.