Inf8770 May 2026
Python (with Numpy/Scipy) is great for prototyping. C++ or Java is better if the professor benchmarks for speed. If you use Python, learn PuLP or OR-Tools immediately.
Are you currently taking INF8770? What algorithm are you struggling with right now? Let me know in the comments below! Inf8770
Here is your comprehensive guide to not just surviving INF8770, but actually enjoying the process of breaking combinatorial problems. The first lesson of INF8770 is a humbling one. For large-scale problems (think: routing 100 delivery trucks or scheduling a hospital), finding the perfect mathematical solution might take longer than the age of the universe. Python (with Numpy/Scipy) is great for prototyping
You will spend hours tweaking the temperature decay rate in Simulated Annealing. Set a time limit. A mediocre algorithm with a perfect literature review often scores higher than a perfect algorithm with no documentation. Are you currently taking INF8770
But let’s be real: It is also the class where many of us first encounter the existential dread of problems.
Build a simple Plotly or Matplotlib dashboard. When the TA sees your algorithm finding a route in real-time on a map of Montreal, you guarantee a high grade. Presentation is half the battle. Is INF8770 worth the pain? Yes. Absolutely.