Results for the 2024 MiniZinc Challenge have now been announced!

Citing MiniZinc

If you use MiniZinc in your own research or would like to acknowledge it in a publication, please use the following references.

  • Nicholas Nethercote, Peter J. Stuckey, Ralph Becket, Sebastian Brand, Gregory J. Duck, and Guido Tack. 2007.
    MiniZinc: Towards a Standard CP Modelling Language.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming – CP 2007: 529—543. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-74970-7_38
  • Peter J. Stuckey, Thibaut Feydy, Andreas Schutt, Guido Tack, and Julien Fischer. 2014.
    The MiniZinc Challenge 2008–2013.
    Abstract
    AI Magazine 35(2): 55-60.
    https://doi.org/10.1609/aimag.v35i2.2539

Papers defining the MiniZinc or Zinc languages and extensions

  • Peter J. Stuckey, and Guido Tack. 2019.
    Compiling Conditional Constraints.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 384—400. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30048-7_23
  • Gleb Belov, Peter J. Stuckey, Guido Tack, and Mark Wallace. 2016.
    Improved Linearization of Constraint Programming Models.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 49—65. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44953-1_4
  • Andrea Rendl, Tias Guns, Peter J. Stuckey, and Guido Tack. 2015.
    MiniSearch: A Solver-Independent Meta-Search Language for MiniZinc.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 376—392. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23219-5_27
  • Kevin Leo, and Guido Tack. 2015.
    Multi-pass high-level presolving.
    Abstract
    International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence 2015: 346—352. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).
  • Christopher Mears, Andreas Schutt, Peter J. Stuckey, Guido Tack, Kim Marriott, and Mark Wallace. 2014.
    Modelling with Option Types in MiniZinc.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming: 88—103. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07046-9_7
  • Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2014.
    Nested Constraint Programs.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 240—255. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10428-7_19
  • Andrea Rendl, Guido Tack, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2014.
    Stochastic MiniZinc.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 636—645. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10428-7_46
  • Peter J. Stuckey, and Guido Tack. 2013.
    MiniZinc with Functions.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimization Problems: 268—283. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38171-3_18
  • Tom Schrijvers, Guido Tack, Pieter Wuille, Horst Samulowitz, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2013.
    Search combinators.
    Abstract
    Constraints 18(2): 269—305.
  • Thibaut Feydy, Zoltan Somogyi, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2011.
    Half Reification and Flattening.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming – CP 2011: 286—301. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23786-7_23
  • Tom Schrijvers, Guido Tack, Pieter Wuille, Horst Samulowitz, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2011.
    Search Combinators.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming – CP 2011: 774—788. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23786-7_58
  • Jakob Puchinger, Peter J. Stuckey, Mark G. Wallace, and Sebastian Brand. 2011.
    Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition and branch-and-price solving in G12.
    Abstract
    Constraints 16(1): 77—99.
  • Alan M. Frisch, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2009.
    The Proper Treatment of Undefinedness in Constraint Languages.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming - CP 2009: 367—382. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04244-7_30
  • Sebastian Brand, Gregory J. Duck, Jakob Puchinger, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2008.
    Flexible, Rule-Based Constraint Model Linearisation.
    Abstract
    Practical Aspects of Declarative Languages: 68—83. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77442-6_6
  • Kim Marriott, Nicholas Nethercote, Reza Rafeh, Peter J. Stuckey, Maria Garcia de la Banda, and Mark Wallace. 2008.
    The Design of the Zinc Modelling Language.
    Abstract
    Constraints 13(3): 229—267.

Papers using MiniZinc or Zinc

  • David Hemmi, Guido Tack, and Mark Wallace. 2018.
    A Recursive Scenario Decomposition Algorithm for Combinatorial Multistage Stochastic Optimisation Problems.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the Thirty-Second AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Thirtieth Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence Conference and Eighth AAAI Symposium on Educational Advances in Artificial Intelligence AAAI Press.
  • David Hemmi, Guido Tack, and Mark Wallace. 2017.
    Scenario-Based Learning for Stochastic Combinatorial Optimisation.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming: 277—292. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59776-8_23
  • Kevin Leo, and Guido Tack. 2017.
    Debugging Unsatisfiable Constraint Models.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming: 77—93. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59776-8_7
  • Tias Guns, Anton Dries, Siegfried Nijssen, Guido Tack, and Luc De Raedt. 2017.
    MiningZinc: A declarative framework for constraint-based mining.
    Abstract
    Combining Constraint Solving with Mining and Learning, Artificial Intelligence 244: 6—29.
  • Maxim Shishmarev, Christopher Mears, Guido Tack, and Maria Garcia de la Banda. 2016.
    Learning from Learning Solvers.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 455—472. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44953-1_29
  • Ria Szeredi, and Andreas Schutt. 2016.
    Modelling and Solving Multi-mode Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 483—492. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44953-1_31
  • Maxim Shishmarev, Christopher Mears, Guido Tack, and Maria Garcia de la Banda. 2016.
    Visual search tree profiling.
    Abstract
    Constraints 21(1): 77—94.
  • Christina N. Burt, Nir Lipovetzky, Adrian R. Pearce, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2015.
    Scheduling with Fixed Maintenance, Shared Resources and Nonlinear Feedrate Constraints: A Mine Planning Case Study.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming: 91—107. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18008-3_7
  • Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2015.
    Learning Value Heuristics for Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming: 108—123. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18008-3_8
  • Gustav Björdal, Jean-Noël Monette, Pierre Flener, and Justin Pearson. 2015.
    A constraint-based local search backend for MiniZinc.
    Abstract
    Constraints 20(3): 325—345.
  • Gleb Belov, Natashia Boland, Martin W. P. Savelsbergh, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2014.
    Local Search for a Cargo Assembly Planning Problem.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming: 159—175. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07046-9_12
  • Broderick Crawford, Ricardo Soto, Carolina Zec, Eric Monfroy, and Fernando Paredes. 2014.
    Easy Modeling of Open Pit Mining Problems via Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    HCI International 2014 - Posters’ Extended Abstracts: 519—522. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07857-1_91
  • Roberto Amadini, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2014.
    Sequential Time Splitting and Bounds Communication for a Portfolio of Optimization Solvers.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 108—124. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10428-7_11
  • Kathryn Francis, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2014.
    Loop Untangling.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 340—355. Springer International Publishing.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10428-7_26
  • Kathryn Glenn Francis, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2014.
    Explaining circuit propagation.
    Abstract
    Constraints 19(1): 1—29.
  • Andreas Schutt, Thibaut Feydy, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2013.
    Explaining Time-Table-Edge-Finding Propagation for the Cumulative Resource Constraint.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimization Problems: 234—250. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38171-3_16
  • Claudio León de la Barra, Ricardo Soto, Broderick Crawford, Camila Allendes, Hans Berendsen, and Eric Monfroy. 2013.
    Modeling the Portfolio Selection Problem with Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    HCI International 2013 - Posters’ Extended Abstracts: 645—649. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39473-7_128
  • Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2013.
    Dominance Driven Search.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 217—229. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40627-0_19
  • Kathryn Francis, Jorge Navas, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2013.
    Modelling Destructive Assignments.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 315—330. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40627-0_26
  • Kevin Leo, Christopher Mears, Guido Tack, and Maria Garcia de la Banda. 2013.
    Globalizing Constraint Models.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 432—447. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40627-0_34
  • Andreas Schutt, Thibaut Feydy, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2013.
    Scheduling Optional Tasks with Explanation.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 628—644. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40627-0_47
  • Andreas Schutt, Thibaut Feydy, Peter J. Stuckey, and Mark G. Wallace. 2013.
    Solving RCPSP/max by lazy clause generation.
    Abstract
    Journal of Scheduling 16(3): 273—289.
  • Rehan Abdul Aziz, Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2013.
    Stable model semantics for founded bounds.
    Abstract
    Theory and Practice of Logic Programming 13(4-5): 517—532.
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S147106841300032X
  • John A. Hewson, Paul Anderson, and Andrew D. Gordon. 2013.
    Constraint-Based Autonomic Reconfiguration.
    Abstract
    2013 IEEE 7th International Conference on Self-Adaptive and Self-Organizing Systems: 101—110.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/SASO.2013.23
  • Rafael Caballero, Peter J Stuckey, and Antonio Tenorio-Fornés. 2013.
    Finite Type Extensions in Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the 15th Symposium on Principles and Practice of Declarative Programming: 217–227. Association for Computing Machinery.
    https://doi.org/10.1145/2505879.2505905
  • Rehan Abdul Aziz, Peter J Stuckey, and Zoltan Somogyi. 2013.
    Inductive Definitions in Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the Thirty-Sixth Australasian Computer Science Conference - Volume 135: 41–50. Australian Computer Society, Inc..
    https://doi.org/10.5555/2525401.2525406
  • Roberto Amadini, Maurizio Gabbrielli, and Jacopo Mauro. 2013.
    An Enhanced Features Extractor for a Portfolio of Constraint Solvers.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the ACM Symposium on Applied Computing
    https://doi.org/10.1145/2554850.2555114
  • Tias Guns, Anton Dries, Guido Tack, Siegfried Nijssen, and Luc De Raedt. 2013.
    MiningZinc: A modeling language for constraint-based mining.
    Abstract
    IJCAI International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence: 1365—1372.
  • Nicholas Downing, Thibaut Feydy, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    Explaining Flow-Based Propagation.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Contraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimzation Problems: 146—162. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29828-8_10
  • Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    Inter-instance Nogood Learning in Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 238—247. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33558-7_19
  • Kathryn Francis, Sebastian Brand, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    Optimisation Modelling for Software Developers.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 274—289. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33558-7_22
  • Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    A Generic Method for Identifying and Exploiting Dominance Relations.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 6—22. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33558-7_4
  • Geoffrey Chu, Maria Garcia de la Banda, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    Exploiting subproblem dominance in constraint programming.
    Abstract
    Constraints 17(1): 1—38.
  • Mark Przepiora, Reza Karimpour, and Guenther Ruhe. 2012.
    A hybrid release planning method and its empirical justification.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the 2012 ACM-IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement: 115—118.
    https://doi.org/10.1145/2372251.2372271
  • John A Hewson, Paul Anderson, and Andrew D Gordon. 2012.
    A Declarative Approach to Automated Configuration.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Large Installation System Administration: Strategies, Tools, and Techniques: 51–66. USENIX Association.
    https://doi.org/10.5555/2432523.2432528
  • Jinbo Huang. 2012.
    Search Strategy Simulation in Constraint Booleanization.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: 628–632. AAAI Press.
    https://doi.org/10.5555/3031843.3031924
  • Nicholas Downing, Thibaut Feydy, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    Explaining alldifferent.
    Abstract
    Conferences in Research and Practice in Information Technology Series 122: 115—124.
  • Geoffrey Chu, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2012.
    A complete solution to the Maximum Density Still Life Problem.
    Abstract
    Artificial Intelligence 184-185: 1—16.
  • Christopher Mears, Todd Niven, Marcel Jackson, and Mark Wallace. 2011.
    Proving Symmetries by Model Transformation.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming – CP 2011: 591—605. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23786-7_45
  • Andreas Schutt, Thibaut Feydy, Peter J. Stuckey, and Mark G. Wallace. 2011.
    Explaining the cumulative propagator.
    Abstract
    Constraints 16(3): 250—282.
  • Olivier Mehani, Roksana Boreli, Michael Malier, and Ernst Thierry. 2011.
    User- and application-centric multihomed flow management.
    Abstract
    2011 IEEE 36th Conference on Local Computer Networks: 26—34.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/LCN.2011.6115206
  • Geoffrey Chu, Maria Garcia de la Banda, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2010.
    Automatically Exploiting Subproblem Equivalence in Constraint Programming.
    Abstract
    Integration of AI and OR Techniques in Constraint Programming for Combinatorial Optimization Problems: 71—86. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13520-0_10
  • Miquel Bofill, Josep Suy, and Mateu Villaret. 2010.
    A System for Solving Constraint Satisfaction Problems with SMT.
    Abstract
    Theory and Applications of Satisfiability Testing – SAT 2010: 300—305. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14186-7_25
  • Peter J. Stuckey, Ralph Becket, and Julien Fischer. 2010.
    Philosophy of the MiniZinc challenge.
    Abstract
    Constraints 15(3): 307—316.
  • Qinghua Lu, and Vlidimir Tosic. 2010.
    MiniMASC+MiniZinc: An Autonomic Business-Driven Decision Making Middleware for Adaptation of Web Service Compositions.
    Abstract
    2010 7th International Conference on Ubiquitous Intelligence & Computing and 7th International Conference on Autonomic & Trusted Computing: 474—477.
    https://doi.org/10.1109/UIC-ATC.2010.67
  • Tripti Saxena, and Gabor Karsai. 2010.
    The GDSE Framework: A Meta-Tool for Automated Design Space Exploration.
    Abstract
    Proceedings of the 10th Workshop on Domain-Specific Modeling Association for Computing Machinery.
    https://doi.org/10.11452060329.2060362
  • Thibaut Feydy, and Peter J. Stuckey. 2009.
    Lazy Clause Generation Reengineered.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming - CP 2009: 352—366. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04244-7_29
  • Andreas Schutt, Thibaut Feydy, Peter J. Stuckey, and Mark G. Wallace. 2009.
    Why Cumulative Decomposition Is Not as Bad as It Sounds.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming - CP 2009: 746—761. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04244-7_58
  • Jinbo Huang. 2008.
    Universal Booleanization of Constraint Models.
    Abstract
    Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming: 144—158. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85958-1_10