|
Contact: Daniel Fylstra |
News Release |
INCLINE VILLAGE, NV -- March 1, 2006 -- Frontline Systems is shipping Version 7.0 of its Solver Platform SDK, featuring new support for 64-bit Windows, 32-bit and 64-bit Linux, Visual Studio 2005 and Microsoft .NET 2.0, and MATLAB, and significant enhancements to its Monte Carlo simulation capabilities. Trial versions are available for download from https://www.solver.com.
The Solver Platform SDK (Software Development Kit) makes Frontline's full suite of Solvers for optimization and Monte Carlo simulation available to developers using today's most popular platforms and languages: Microsoft COM and .NET, Java and MATLAB, as well as C/C#/C++, Visual Basic/VB.NET and other languages. Unlike other "callable library" optimizers, the SDK features easy-to-use wizards to help developers get started quickly, and a new object-oriented API (Application Programming Interface) that greatly enhances developer productivity.
"Given the enthusiastic user response to our Solver Platform SDK in the last six months, we're now rapidly extending its power and reach," said Daniel Fylstra, President of Frontline Systems. "Now developers can use the SDK to solve the very largest problems using 64-bit processors and operating systems, and benefit from the latest tools such as .NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005."
Five Bundled Solvers for Optimization
The Solver Platform SDK features five bundled Solver Engines for optimization and simulation -- far more than other "callable libraries" -- including a Simplex Solver for LP/QP/MIP (linear, quadratic and mixed integer) problems up to 8,000 variables, a Barrier Solver for QCP/SOCP (quadratically constrained and second order cone programming) problems up to 2,000 variables, a GRG Nonlinear Solver for NLP (smooth nonlinear) problems up to 500 variables, and Frontline's leading Evolutionary Solver for arbitrary NSP (non-smooth) problems up to 500 variables.
New Solver Power for Monte Carlo Simulation
Version 7.0 further extends the Monte Carlo simulation capabilities of the Solver Platform SDK, with a new, high-level Distribution object in its object-oriented API that computes probability density (PDF) and cumulative probability (CDF) functions, supports shifting and truncation of distributions, and automatically fits distributions and their parameters to user-supplied sample data, for a wide range of commonly-used probability distributions.
Deep Support for Popular 32-bit and 64-bit Development Platforms
Unlike other optimization "callable libraries" that offer limited compatibility with platforms such as Microsoft .NET, COM and Java, the Solver Platform SDK offers broad and deep support for these platforms. The SDK includes optimization and simulation Wizards, and IntelliSense Help for its object-oriented API, in Visual Studio 2005 and 2003, Visual C++ and Visual Basic 6, as well as JavaDoc Help. Version 7.0 supports both .NET 2.0 and .NET 1.1, and includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the SDK and built-in Solver Engines. Developers can use the compilers in Visual Studio 2005, or the gcc compilers in Linux, to easily build 32-bit or 64-bit applications.
Rich Support for MATLAB
The Solver Platform SDK includes deep support for MATLAB, the popular technical computing language from The MathWorks Inc., through both its object-oriented API and its procedural API. Version 7.0 adds a third API, compatible with the popular MATLAB Optimization Toolbox. The SDK is now the most complete and versatile toolkit for optimization and simulation available for MATLAB -- and the only one that makes use of MATLAB's object-oriented features.
Multiple Solver Engines Support Excel, MATLAB, Programming Languages
Frontline's seven large-scale Solver Engines Version 6.5 "plug into" the Solver Platform SDK V7.0 as well as the Premium Solver Platform for Excel, to solve problems with hundreds of thousands of variables and constraints. Unlike other software for optimization and simulation, Frontline's Solver Engines can be used with Excel, MATLAB, Java, all .NET and COM languages, and conventional procedural programming languages -- all for the price of one license.
Pricing and Licensing Simplifies Deployment of Corporate and ISV Applications
A single user development license for the Solver Platform SDK, for either Windows or Linux, is just $1,495 in the United States and €1,725 and £1,145 in Europe, plus 33% required first-year annual support per configuration (32-bit or 64-bit) which drops to 20% after the application is developed and deployed. Concurrent user development licenses are also available. Single user runtime licenses start at half the cost of development licenses; flexible concurrent use, capacity-based runtime licenses are also available. Runtime software license management and pricing -- often problematic with other "callable libraries" -- is simple and straightforward with the Solver Platform SDK. Frontline has developed special programs for both corporate developers -- who typically deploy applications 'in-house' to their own people, and for ISVs (independent software vendors) -- who typically deploy applications externally to other firms, with a goal of easing the path to application deployment. Both Frontline-provided and ISV-provided license managers are supported by the SDK. Further details are available from Frontline Systems.
About Frontline Systems, Inc.
Frontline Systems, Inc. (https://www.solver.com) is a leading developer of optimization and simulation software, and the leader in spreadsheet optimization software that helps analysts and managers optimally allocate scarce resources - money, equipment, and people - to realize substantial cost savings. Frontline developed the solvers/optimizers in Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro, distributed to more than 400 million spreadsheet users.
Founded in 1987, Frontline is headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada (775-831-0300 or info@solver.com).