GenOpt

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• SKILL.md

SKILL.md (first lines)

GenOpt allows multidimensional optimization of an objective function that is computed by a simulation program.
The optimization is done by systematic variation of specified design parameters in order to minimize or maximize the objective function.

The main purpose of the optimization tool is to avoid the time-consuming process of determining the best values of design parameters.
GenOpt is general in its interface and operating structure.
The interface is easy to use, and the program can be coupled to any simulation program (such as EnergyPlus, Modelica or the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed) that reads its input from a text file and writes its output to a text file.

# GenOpt

<https://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/GO/download/manual-3-1-1.pdf>

Text file based optimization.

3 files required:

1. Configuration File (`.cfg` extension): Usually set up once per type of program, i.e. EnergyPlus, xlim, Transys

```
// vim: ft=genoptcfg

SimulationError { ErrorMessage = "Error"; }
IO { NumberFormat = Double; }
SimulationStart
{
    Command = "./runxlim.sh";
    WriteInputFileExtension = true;
}
```

2. Initialization file (`.ini`):
  - Where the runtime optimization files are located
  - What files should be saved after finished
  - Additional strings to be passed to the command line invocation
  - Where the cost function is in the output file
  - Whether that cost function needs to be post-processed
  - What simulation program is being used.


```
Simulation {
    Files {
        Template {
            File1 = "./gen_hx_fit.xlim";
        }
        Input {
            File1 = "./in.xlim";
        }
        Log {
            File1 = "./log.txt";
        }
        Output {
            File1 = "./out.txt";
        }
        Configuration {
            File1 = "./xlim.cfg";
        }
    }
    ObjectiveFunctionLocation {
        Name1  = "objective";
        Delimiter1 = "=";
    }
}
Optimization {
    Files {
        Command {
            File1 = "./command.txt";
        }
    }
}
```


3. Command file (`command.txt`)
  - optimization variables
  - stopping criteria
  - optimization algorithm


## Notes

If `WriteStepNumber` is true, the `%stepNumber%` placeholder must exist in the template file.


## Algorithms

```
// 1-D continuous
Algorithm { Main = GoldenSection | Fibonacci; }

GoldenSection needs either:
AbsDiffFunction
IntervalReduction
```

## Running

```sh
# With GUI
java -jar genopt.jar file.ini
# I have genopt script that looks for installed version
genopt file.ini
# Without GUI
java -classpath genopt.jar genopt.GenOpt file.ini
```

## Continuous Parameters

```
// Settings for a continuous parameter
Parameter {
    Name = String ;
    Ini = Double ;
    Step = Double ;
    [ Min = Double | SMALL; ]
    [ Max = Double | BIG ; ]
    [ Type = CONTINUOUS; ]
}
```

From mitchpaulus/dotfiles, MIT.

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