Prelimaries

An optimization solver takes information on the problem it has to solve by calling a simulator, which is a piece of software that computes the functions defining the problem and, often, the derivatives of these functions (for smooth optimization problems at least). The dialog between the solver and the simulator can be organized through two different communication protocols.

• The direct communication protocol (DC) is the straighforward way of organizing the communication. The optimization solver directly calls the simulator for having information on the problem.
  
  
• In the reverse communication protocol (RC), the optimization solver returns to the calling procedure (the one that has called the optimization solver) to have information on the problem. The calling procedure calls the simulator to get this information and then loops back to call again the optimization solver and to pursue the optimization.

Conditions of external use of the optimization routines

The property of any particular Modulopt optimization routine is determined by those who have written the software, called authors below.

Conditions for their use are usually the following.

• The software must be used with an academic or research purpose only. In particular, it must not be used for commercial applications.
• The software can only be reproduced for personal use. In particular, any copy addressed to a third party, even free of charge, would be fraudulent.
• If modifications are performed to the software, these modifications must be communicated to the authors and their property must be transferred to the authors.
• In case a work makes use of a Modulopt optimization routine, due acknowledgment must be made for the use of the routine in the research reports or publications related to this work, mentioning the MODULOPT library as well as the reference of the paper related to the software if such a paper exists.
• The user recognizes to be aware that the software is a research product and is provided without any expressed or implied warranty. There is no warranty of any kind concerning the fitness of the software for any particular purpose.

A specific agreement can be negotiated.