DESDEO is an open-source framework for interactive multiobjective optimization methods. The framework contains implementations of both scalarization- and population-based interactive methods. There are currently no other open-source software frameworks that focus solely on the implementation of interactive multiobjective optimization methods.
The mission of DESDEO is to increase awareness of the benefits of interactive multiobjective optimization methods, make interactive methods openly available, and to function as the central hub for implementations of various interactive methods. Apart from existing methods, DESDEO offers various tools to facilitate the development of new methods and their application as well. Another important goal of DESDEO is to answer the needs of decision makers and practitioners when it comes to modeling and solving real-life multiobjective optimization problems.
In the bigger picture, DESDEO will be composed of three major components:
- The core-logic, which contains the algorithmic implementation of interactive methods, various tools related to multiobjective optimization, and means to model a variety of multiobjective optimization problems. The core-logic can be considered stable enough for use in research and applications.
- The web-API (WIP), which implements a web-based application programming interface (API) to allow the use of the various functionalities found in DESDEO's core-logic through a web connection. The web-API implements also a database, which is a vital component for managing and enabling decision-support using the framework. The web-API is currently under heavy development, and is subject to changes.
- The web-GUI (WIP), which implements a web-based interface for utilizing the interactive methods and tools for modeling and solving multiobjective optimization problems. The web-GUI relies heavily on the web-API, and is also being actively developed currently, and therefore subject to sudden changes.
For developing and experimenting with interactive multiobjective optimization methods on a "grass root" level, the core-logic provides the necessary tools. For deploying interactive methods, the web-API and the web_GUI play a central role.
DESDEO is an open-source project and everybody is welcome to contribute!
DESDEO's core-logic offers various features that can facilitate the application and development of new interactive multiobjective optimization methods. Some of the key features include, but are not limited to,
- A powerful, pydantic-based, schema for modeling multiobjective optimization problem of various kinds. Including, analytically defined problems, data-based problems, surrogate-based problems, and simulation-based problems. Both continuous and (mixed-)integer problems are supported as well.
- Support to interface to many popular and powerful optimization software for solving multiobjective optimization problems. Including Gurobi, various solvers from the COIN-OR project, and nevergrad, for instance.
- A wide assortment of modular software components for implementing existing and new interactive multiobjective optimization methods. For example, many scalarization functions and evolutionary operators for multiobjective optimization are available.
- An extensive documentation suitable for both newcomers to DESDEO and interactive multiobjective optimization in general, and seasoned veterans.
DESDEO's web-API is currently under active development. Once it stabilized, its key features will be listed here. In the meantime, the interested user can follow (and contribute!) the development progress of the web-API in this issue.
DESDEO's web-GUI is currently in a planning stage. Once its active development starts, an issue will be created for documenting its development, as is currently the case with the web-API.
DESDEO is available on PyPI to be installed via pip:
pip install desdeoHowever, some of DESDEO's features rely on 3rd party optimizers, which should be available on your system. To read more on these, and on instructions on how to install the latest version of DESDEO directly form GitHub, check out the documentation.
Care has been taken to make sure DESDEO is well documented, making it accessible to both newcomers and seasoned users alike. The documentation of DESDEO is available online.
As DESDEO is an open source-project, anybody is welcome to contribute. An extensive tutorial to get started contributing to DESDEO is available in the documentation. Be sure to check it out!
For additional support for contributing to DESDEO, be sure to check out the DESDEO channels in the MCDM Community's Discord server. You may join the server through this invite.
DESDEO is licensed under the MIT license. For more information,
check the LICENSE file.
To cite DESDEO, please include the following reference:
@article{misitano2021desdeo,
title={DESDEO: The modular and open source framework for interactive multiobjective optimization},
author={Misitano, Giovanni and Saini, Bhupinder Singh and Afsar, Bekir and Shavazipour, Babooshka and Miettinen, Kaisa},
journal={IEEE Access},
volume={9},
pages={148277--148295},
year={2021},
publisher={IEEE}
}
Note: A new article describing the latest iteration of the framework, also known as DESDEO 2.0 is currently being prepared. The content of this repository's master branch is considered to be DESDEO 2.0.
Currently, DESDEO's development is partly funded by two projects granted by the Research Council of Finland. The most recent ones include:
- DESIDES (project 355346)
- UTOPIA (project 352784)
- DAEMON (project 322221)