Re: [OctDev] changes in optim

[Michael C. <mic...@ua...>]

On Thursday 20 May 2004 12:08, Etienne Grossmann wrote:
>   Hi all,
>
> On Thu, May 20, 2004 at 02:36:50PM +0200, Michael Creel wrote:
> # Hello all,
> # I have made some significant changes in the ./main/optim directory.
> #
> # bfgs.m and bs_gradient.m have been replaced with bfgsmin.cc and
> # numgradient.cc. The first change introduces interface incompatibilities,
> but # the second has a common interface.
> #
> # There will be some errors in functions that call bfgs.m until the new
> # interface and function name are adopted.
>
> I would have prefered to have bfgs and bfgsmin coexist for some time,
> i.e. until 'minimize' uses 'bfgsmin' and a warning message
>
>  'bfgs is obsolete and will be removed from future octave-forge releases'
>
> has amply warned users of 'bfgs' to do the switch. Is it still time to
> put back bfgs and dependencies?
>
>   Just my 2c,
>
>   Etienne
Hi Etienne and others,
Well, they _have_ coexisted for quite some time, and we discussed replacing 
bfgs a few months ago. The reason I made the change now is that I learned 
that the new functions wouldn't go into new releases if they were in a 3rd 
level subdir. I'm attaching copies of the most recent versions of the 
replaced functions, and I won't touch them again if you decide to restore 
them, but I really think that modifying the other files would not be much 
work, and would help to get people to use routines which are both faster and 
more robust. It will also help to keep the optim directory from being 
overcrowded and confusing.  I myself modified the test_min_1, 2, and 3 
functions to make them use the new function, and it's not hard to do.
Regards, Michael

>
> # There are also two new minimization routines: lbfgsmin.cc and samin.cc,
> that # implement limited memory BFGS, and Simulated Annealing.
> #
> # There is also a celleval.cc, which is like leval.cc, but for cells.
> Perhaps # this might be useful in contexts other that optimization.
> #
> # The motivation for the change is the greater speed and reliability of the
> new # routines. I can post documentation if anyone is interested.
> #
> # I'm sorry for any inconveniences adapting interfaces might cause. I have
> kept # snapshots of the replaced functions if anyone needs them.
> #
> # Regards, Michael
> #
> #
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