Hotframe: A Heuristic Optimization Framework

Abstract

In this paper we survey the design and application of HotFrame, a framework that provides reusable software components in the metaheuristics domain. After a brief introduction and overview we analyze and model metaheuristics with special emphasis on commonalities and variabilities. The resulting model constitutes the basis for the framework design. The framework architecture defines the collaboration among software components (in particular with respect to the interface between generic metaheuristic components and problem-specific complements). The framework is described with respect to its architecture, included components, implementation, and application.