Linear Programming Meets Block-based Languages
Hugo da Gião, Jácome Cunha, Rui Pereira · 2021
Linear programming is a mathematical optimization technique used in numerous fields including mathematics, economics, and computer science, with numerous industrial contexts, including solving optimization problems such as planning routes, allocating resources, and creating schedules. As a result of its wide breadth of applications, a considerable amount of its user base is lacking in terms of programming knowledge and experience and thus often resorts to using graphical software such as Microsoft Excel. However, despite its popularity amongst less technical users, the methodologies used by these tools are often ad-hoc and prone to errors. To counteract this problem we propose creating a block-based language that allows users to create linear programming models using data contained inside spreadsheets. This language will guide the users to write syntactically and semantically correct programs and thus aid them in a way that current languages do not.