Customer Reviews

A Java Library of Graph Algorithms and Optimization (Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This library of ready-to-use programs is extremely useful. I have used the programs with very minimal effort in obtaining solutions to some graph optimization problems. Unfortunately the programs are not well documented; it would be a challenge to make modifications to the code. However, the library serves as an ideal black box tool in solving most of the pedagogical graph theory and optimization problems, especially well suited for users who are not of much concern for the underlying methodology and implementation.

There are many well-written textbooks that cover the theory
and algorithms on graphs and combinatorial optimization.
Very few provide the computer code for the methods. This
book offers an extensive collection of Java programs in
this area. Each program is self-contained and can be used
independently through parameter passing. The drawback of
the book is that the coding style is not object oriented,
and the programs would be difficult to maintain. The
description of the methods and their implementations is
terse. Hence the book is not intended as a learning text.
But the library of programs is a very convenient handy
device for students and researchers in locating solutions
to classroom didactic problems in graphs and optimization,
which apparently is the main objective of the book.

This is my third review; my two previous reviews have been removed. I have already notified Amazon about this fact

As I have stated, book is just a printout of Java program, without any explanation how program is doing what is doing, what are program limitations in terms of memory, time and complexity. Programming style is mostly Fortran IV like. Programs are without single line of comment and with non-intuitive variable names, what makes modificatios difficult or impossible. Book can be useful for somebody who needs "black box" library, doesn't need to understand programs and trusts the author that programs fave no flaws

In my self-study, I need the numerical solutions to many graph theory and optimization problems, especially to some exercises which appear in books where solutions are often not provided. The library code of this book fits exactly what I was looking for and is not easily found anywhere else. It is extremely helpful. It is an indispensible tool in helping me to verify my own solutions to many exercise problems. But it is not a suitable source for learning the algorithms and coding implementation, where many other textbooks are more appropriate for that purpose.

After installing the library code from this book, I am able to get the solutions to many small graph theoretic problems. The examples from the book are very helpful in showing how to input my problems. This is a convenient source where the code for solving many of the graph theory and optimization problems are centralized.