Answer Set Solving in Practice

Answer Set Programming (ASP) is a declarative problem solving approach, initially tailored to modeling problems in the area of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KRR). More recently, its attractive combination of a rich yet simple modeling language with high-performance solving capacities has sparked interest in many other areas even beyond KRR. This book presents a practical introduction to ASP, aiming at using ASP languages and systems for solving application problems. Starting from the essential formal foundations, it introduces ASP's solving technology, modeling language and methodology, while illustrating the overall solving process by practical examples. Table of Contents: List of Figures / List of Tables / Motivation / Introduction / Basic modeling / Grounding / Characterizations / Solving / Systems / Advanced modeling / Conclusions Figures......Page 6 Tables......Page 8 Lists......Page 9 Algorithms......Page 11 Preface......Page 12 About the Book......Page 14 Motivation......Page 17 Quickstart......Page 20 Refs......Page 25 Logical Preliminaries & Terminology......Page 27 Basic Syntax & Semantics......Page 29 First-Order Variables......Page 32 Core Language......Page 33 Optimization Statements......Page 38 Two (and a Half) Kinds of Negation......Page 39 True Language Extensions......Page 40 Computation from First Principles......Page 42 Reasoning Modes......Page 45 Computational Complexity......Page 46 Refs......Page 47 Problem Encoding......Page 50 Modeling Methodology......Page 54 Advanced Problem Encoding......Page 60 Refs......Page 64 Grounding......Page 65 Basic Grounding Algorithms......Page 66 Turing Machine......Page 72 Meta Programming......Page 75 Refs......Page 80 Axiomatic Characterization......Page 82 Operational Characterization......Page 87 Proof-theoretic Characterization......Page 91 Nogood-based Characterization......Page 95 Refs......Page 102 Boolean Constraint Solving......Page 104 Setting the Stage......Page 106 Conflict-driven Nogood Learning......Page 107 Nogood Propagation......Page 112 Unfounded Set Checking......Page 115 Conflict Analysis......Page 120 Refs......Page 123 Architecture......Page 125 GRINGO input Language......Page 126 Making Grounding more transparent......Page 130 SMODELS Format......Page 133 Solving with CLASP......Page 135 Interfaces & Preprocessing......Page 136 Reasoning Modes......Page 137 Propagation & Search......Page 138 Multi-threaded Architecture......Page 140 Making Solving more transparent......Page 146 Fine-Tuning......Page 148 CLASPD......Page 150 CLASPAR......Page 151 CLINGO......Page 152 CLINGCON......Page 153 ICLINGO......Page 155 OCLINGO......Page 159 Refs......Page 161 Pimping Queens......Page 164 Stemming Blocks......Page 168 Sequential Planning......Page 169 Parallel Planning......Page 179 Speeding Salesmen......Page 181 Vade mecum gum......Page 183 Refs......Page 185 Omissions......Page 186 Challenges......Page 188 Arming Tweety with Jet Engines......Page 189 ASP in a Nutshell......Page 191 Biblio......Page 193 Index......Page 216 Answer Set Programming (ASP) is a declarative problem solving approach, initially tailored to modelling problems in the area of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KRR). This book presents a practical introduction to ASP. It introduces ASP's solving technology, modelling language and methodology, while illustrating the overall solving process with practical examples.