Who is Interested in Algorithms and why? Lessons from the Stony Brook Algorithms Repository.
Steven Skiena · 1998
We present "market research" for the field of combinatorial algorithms and algorithm engineering, attempting to determine which algorithmic problems are most in demand in applications. We analyze 1,503,135 WWW hits recorded on the Stony Brook Algorithms Repository (http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/¸algorith), to determine the relative level of interest among 75 algorithmic problems and the extent to which publicly available algorithm implementations satisfy this demand. 1 Introduction A primary goal of algorithm engineering is to provide practitioners with well-engineered solutions to important algorithmic problems. Our beliefs as to which problems are important to practitioners have been based primarily on anecdotal evidence. To provide more objective information, it seems useful to conduct "market research" for the field of combinatorial algorithms, by determining which algorithmic problems are most in demand in applications, and how well currently available implementations satisfy this dem...