You will spend hours tweaking the temperature decay rate in Simulated Annealing. Set a time limit. A mediocre algorithm with a perfect literature review often scores higher than a perfect algorithm with no documentation.
Mastering INF8770: A Survival Guide to Optimization and Decision Support Subtitle: How to go from “NP-Hard Nightmares” to thesis-ready solutions. If you are a graduate student in computer engineering or software design, the course code INF8770 probably elicits one of two reactions: cold sweat or confident nodding. Known formally as “Optimization and Decision Support” (or similar titles like Metaheuristics and Operational Research ), this course is the gateway to solving the world’s toughest logistical puzzles. Inf8770
Python (with Numpy/Scipy) is great for prototyping. C++ or Java is better if the professor benchmarks for speed. If you use Python, learn PuLP or OR-Tools immediately. You will spend hours tweaking the temperature decay