# MiniZinc

> constraint modeling language

**Wikidata**: [Q86358817](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q86358817)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniZinc)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/minizinc

## Summary
MiniZinc is a high-level constraint modeling language designed for specifying and solving constraint satisfaction and optimization problems. It serves as a declarative interface for constraint programming, allowing users to model problems abstractly without focusing on implementation details. Developed at Monash University, it is open-source software released under the Mozilla Public License.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: First released on May 2, 2009.
- **Developer**: Primarily developed by Monash University.
- **License**: Mozilla Public License, version 2.0.
- **Operating Systems**: Runs on Linux, Microsoft Windows, and macOS.
- **File Extensions**: Uses `.mzn` (models), `.fzn` (FlatZinc), and `.dzn` (data).
- **Latest Version**: 2.0.12 (released February 26, 2016).
- **Programming Paradigm**: Declarative, focused on constraint programming.
- **Typing Discipline**: Strongly typed.

## FAQs
### Q: What is MiniZinc used for?
A: MiniZinc is used for modeling and solving constraint satisfaction and optimization problems, such as scheduling, planning, and resource allocation, by abstracting the problem definition from the solver implementation.

### Q: Is MiniZinc free to use?
A: Yes, MiniZinc is open-source software licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, allowing free use, modification, and distribution.

### Q: What platforms does MiniZinc support?
A: MiniZinc runs on major operating systems, including Linux, Microsoft Windows, and macOS, with packages available via Homebrew, MacPorts, and Docker.

## Why It Matters
MiniZinc plays a critical role in simplifying the development of constraint programming applications by providing a standardized, high-level language for modeling. It bridges the gap between problem specification and solver execution, enabling researchers and practitioners to focus on problem logic rather than low-level implementation details. Its open-source nature and cross-platform compatibility have fostered collaboration and innovation in fields such as operations research, artificial intelligence, and industrial optimization. By supporting interoperability with various solvers (e.g., Gecode, Chuffed), MiniZinc has become a foundational tool for both academic research and real-world applications, driving advancements in decision-making and resource optimization.

## Notable For
- **Declarative Syntax**: Allows users to define problems in a natural, mathematical style without specifying solution algorithms.
- **Solver Agnosticism**: Models can be executed with multiple backend solvers, enhancing flexibility and performance optimization.
- **Academic and Industrial Adoption**: Widely used in research and industry for tasks like scheduling, logistics, and combinatorial optimization.
- **Cross-Platform Support**: Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, with distribution via popular package managers.

## Body
### Overview
MiniZinc is a declarative constraint modeling language designed to separate problem specification from solver implementation. It enables users to define constraint satisfaction and optimization problems using a high-level syntax, which is then translated into FlatZinc (`.fzn`) for execution by compatible solvers.

### Development & Releases
- **Initial Release**: May 2, 2009.
- **Key Versions**:
  - 2.0.2 (May 26, 2015)
  - 2.0.12 (February 26, 2016), the latest documented release.
- **Repository**: Hosted on GitHub at [https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc).

### Technical Specifications
- **Typing**: Strongly typed to ensure model correctness.
- **File Formats**:
  - `.mzn`: MiniZinc model files.
  - `.dzn`: Data files for instance-specific inputs.
  - `.fzn`: FlatZinc files for solver input.
- **Ecosystem Tools**: Integrates with solvers like Gecode, Chuffed, and OR-Tools.

### Ecosystem & Community
- **Documentation**: User manual available at [https://docs.minizinc.dev/](https://docs.minizinc.dev/).
- **Community Resources**:
  - Website: [https://www.minizinc.org/](https://www.minizinc.org/).
  - Subreddit: r/MiniZinc (English).
  - Stack Overflow tag: [minizinc](https://stackoverflow.com/tags/minizinc).

## References

1. [Release 2.0.2. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.2)
2. [Release 2.0.4. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.4)
3. [Release 2.0.5. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.5)
4. [Release 2.0.6. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.6)
5. [Release 2.0.7. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.7)
6. [Release 2.0.8. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.8)
7. [Release 2.0.9. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.9)
8. [Release 2.0.10. 2015](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.10)
9. [Release 2.0.11. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.11)
10. [Release 2.0.12. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.12)
11. [Release 2.0.13. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.13)
12. [Release 2.0.14. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.0.14)
13. [Release 2.1.0. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.0)
14. [Release 2.1.1. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.1)
15. [Release 2.1.2. 2016](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.2)
16. [Release 2.1.3. 2017](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.3)
17. [Release 2.1.4. 2017](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.4)
18. [Release 2.1.5. 2017](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.5)
19. [Release 2.1.6. 2017](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.6)
20. [Release 2.1.7. 2018](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.1.7)
21. [Release 2.2.0. 2018](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.2.0)
22. [Release 2.2.1. 2018](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.2.1)
23. [Release 2.2.2. 2018](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.2.2)
24. [Release 2.2.3. 2018](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.2.3)
25. [Release 2.3.0. 2019](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.3.0)
26. [Release 2.3.1. 2019](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.3.1)
27. [Release 2.3.2. 2019](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.3.2)
28. [Release 2.4.0. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.4.0)
29. [Release 2.4.1. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.4.1)
30. [Release 2.4.2. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.4.2)
31. [Release 2.4.3. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.4.3)
32. [Release 2.5.0. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.5.0)
33. [Release 2.5.1. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.5.1)
34. [Release 2.5.2. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.5.2)
35. [Release 2.5.3. 2020](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.5.3)
36. [Release 2.5.4. 2021](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.5.4)
37. [Release 2.5.5. 2021](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.5.5)
38. [Release 2.6.0. 2022](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.6.0)
39. [Release 2.6.1. 2022](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.6.1)
40. [Release 2.6.2. 2022](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.6.2)
41. [Release 2.6.3. 2022](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.6.3)
42. [Release 2.6.4. 2022](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.6.4)
43. [Release 2.7.0. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.0)
44. [Release 2.7.1. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.1)
45. [Release 2.7.2. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.2)
46. [Release 2.7.3. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.3)
47. [Release 2.7.4. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.4)
48. [Release 2.7.5. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.5)
49. [Release 2.7.6. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.7.6)
50. [Release 2.8.0. 2023](https://github.com/MiniZinc/libminizinc/releases/tag/2.8.0)