Software Design and Applications (SODA)

Objectives

• Creating custom software to support research, teaching and administrative activities.
• Designing and developing applications from the ground up.
• Implementing useful libraries and data repositories to be shared among projects.
• Integrating modern technologies with existing projects.
• Performance analysis and optimization of existing code.
• Studying new programming paradigms, platforms, languages, libraries.
• Identification and formalization of problems that could benefit from a software solution.
• Ensuring long-term support for existing projects.

Collaboration

• interested in programming,
• the author of an application or library that others could benefit from, but they don't know about it,
• working on a project or a paper that might benefit from others expertise, regarding programming aspects,
• in search of a software solution for a specific problem.

Existing projects

• Graph4J
  • A computationally efficient Java library for graph algorithms.
  • Offers the infrastructure for developing graph related algorithms.
  • Contains implementations of fundamental graph algorithms.
  • In use since since 2023.
• Alk
  • Alk is an educational platform designed for writing, executing, and analyzing algorithms.
  • The platform consists of an algorithmic language, an interpreter able to execute algorithms, and tools to understand, analyse, and evaluate algorithms, and to acquire a rigorous algorithm thinking.
  • In use since since 2018.
• eOra
  • Application for creating the timetables of a faculty / university.
  • Uses constraint programming for solving parts of the problem automatically.
  • In use since since 2008.
• eQuiz
  • Web application for giving students short tests at the end of the labs/seminars.
  • Based on creating a taxonomy of concepts taught in a domain of study.
  • Based on a simple text format for authoring questions in a topic.
  • Creates random tests, using dynamically generated questions.
  • Can be used in a collaborative manner.
  • In uses since 2022.
• RepO
  • Application for assigning students to optional courses.
  • Uses stable matching (Gale-Shapley algorithm) in order to create the distribution.
  • In use since 2016.
  • Could benefit from...
• PrefO [in progress]
  • Web application for collecting (correctly) preferences from students, regarding optional courses.
  • Will permit expressing "indifference" towards various courses.
  • Will be integrated with RepO.
• Academic activity management
  • Collects data about professors and PhD students academic activity.
  • Capability to export the data in xlsx format.
  • Generate FAZ for every teacher.
  • Multiple user types: student, teacher, admin.
  • The teachers can visualize the students activity.
  • The admin have full access of the data in the platform.
  • Send customized emails with attachments to teachers and students.
• MDVSP
  • Java library containing algorithms for multi depot vehicle scheduling problem.
  • Exposes the algorithms also as REST services.
  • Uses either OR-Tools or Gurobi for solving the optimization problems.
  • Used in supporting scientific papers
• ColorLib [in progress]
  • Java library with various algorithms for graph coloring problems.
  • Addresses interval graphs, equitable coloring, set-pack coloring, etc.
  • Used in supporting scientific papers.
• SortingNetworks
  • Java library for generating and analyzing sorting networks.
  • Proved that for 9 wires the optimal solution requires 25 comparators by effectively exploring the whole search space.
  • Used in supporting scientific papers.
• OmniCS
  • Java library for constraint programming.
  • Contains an effective implementation of AC-3 algorithm.
  • Problem instances can be expressed using an API or in XCSP format.
  • Used in supporting scientific papers.
• [New project here]