Scilab Function
Last update : 09/03/2005

optim - non-linear optimization routine

### Calling Sequence

  `[f,xopt]=optim(costf,x0)`
  `[f [,xopt [,gradopt [,work]]]]=optim(costf [,<contr>],x0 [,algo] [,df0 [,mem]] [,work] [,<stop>] [,<params>] [,imp=iflag])`

### Parameters

- `costf`: external, i.e Scilab function list or string (`costf` is the cost function: see below its calling sequence (Scilab or Fortran)). See also external for details about external functions.
- `x0`: real vector (initial value of variable to be minimized).
- `f`: value of optimal cost (`f=costf(xopt)`)
- `xopt`: best value of `x` found.
- `<contr>`: keyword representing the following sequence of arguments: `'b',binf,bsup` with `binf` and `bsup` are real vectors with same dimension as `x0`. `binf` and `bsup` are lower and upper bounds on `x`.
- `algo`: Character string used to sprecify the algorithm to use. The possible values are `'qn'` for quasi-Newton (default) or `'gc'` for conjugate gradient or `'nd'` for non-differentiable. Note that `'nd'` does not accept bounds on `x`.
- `df0`: real scalar. Guessed decreasing of `f` at first iteration. (`df0=1` is the default value).
- `mem :` integer, number of variables used to approximate the Hessian, (`algo='gc' or 'nd'`). Default value is around 6.
- `<stop>`: keyword representing the sequence of optional parameters controlling the convergence of the algorithm. `'ar',nap [,iter [,epsg [,epsf [,epsx]]]]`
  - `"ar"` : reserved keyword for stopping rule selection defined as follows:
  - `nap`: maximum number of calls to `costf` allowed (default is 100).
  - `iter`: maximum number of iterations allowed (default is 100).
  - `epsg`: threshold on gradient norm.
  - `epsf`: threshold controlling decreasing of `f`
  - `epsx`: threshold controlling variation of `x`. This vector (possibly matrix) of same size as `x0` can be used to scale `x`.
- `<params>` : keyword representing the sequence of arguments: `'ti', valti ,'td', valtd` which can be used to pass argument to an external written in C or Fortran (see below).
- `"imp=iflag"` : named argument used to set the trace mode. `iflag=0` nothing (execpt errors) is reported, `iflag=1` initial and final reports, `iflag=2` adds a report per iteration, `iflag>2` add reports on linear search. Warning, most of these reports are written on the Scilab standard output.
- `gradopt`: gradient of `costf` at `xopt`
- `work`: working array for hot restart for quasi-Newton method. This array is automatically initialized by `optim` when `optim` is invoked. It can be used as input parameter to speed-up the calculations.

### Description

Non-linear optimization routine for programs without constraints or with bound constraints:

          min costf(x) w.r.t x.

`costf` is an "external" i.e a Scilab function, a list or a string giving the name of a C or Fortran routine (see "external"). This external must return the value `f` of the cost function at the point `x` and the gradient `g` of the cost function at the point `x`.

  - Scilab function case

  If `costf` is a Scilab function, the calling sequence for `costf` must be: `[f,g,ind]=costf(x,ind)`

  Here, `costf` is a function which returns `f`, value (real number) of cost function at `x`, and `g`, gradient vector of cost function at `x`. The variable `ind` is described below.
  - List case

  If `costf` is a list, it should be of the form: `list(real_costf, arg1,...,argn)` with `real_costf` a Scilab function with calling sequence : `[f,g,ind]=costf(x,ind,arg1,... argn)`. The `x`, `f`, `g`, `ind` arguments have the same meaning that above. `argi` arguments can be used to pass function parameters.

  - String case

  If `costf` is a character string, it refers to the name of a C or Fortran routine which must be linked to Scilab

    * Fortran case

    The generic calling sequence for the Fortran subroutine is: `subroutine costf(ind,n,x,f,g,ti,tr,td)` with the following declarations:

        	      integer ind,n ti(*)
        	      double precision x(n),f,g(n),td(*)
        	      real tr(*)

    The argument `ind` is described below.

    The Fortran subroutine `costf` must return `f` and the vector `g`, given `x, ind, n, ti, tr,td`.

    `ti,tr,td` can be used to initialize parameters. In the calling sequence of `optim`, the keyword `<params>'` can be replaced by `'ti', valti ,'td', valtd` . Then, the routine `costf` is evaluated with `ti=valti` and `td=valtd` whatever the value of `ind`. Thus, the Scilab variables `valti` and `valtd` (integer vector and real vector) are sent to the routine `costf`.

    * C case

    The generic calling sequence for the C procedure is: `void costf(int *ind, int *n, double *x, double *f, double *g, int *ti, float *tr, double *td)` with the following declarations:

    The argument `ind` is described below.

    The C procedure `costf` must return `f` and the vector `g`, given `x, ind, n, ti, tr, td`.

    `ti,tr,td` can be used to initialize parameters. In the calling sequence of `optim`, the string `'in'` can be replaced by `'ti', valti ,'td', valtd`. Then, the procedure `costf` is evaluated with `ti=valti` and `td=valtd` whatever the value of `ind`. Thus, the Scilab variables `valti` and `valtd` (integer vector and real vector) are sent to the procedure `costf`.

If `ind=2` (resp. `3, 4`), `costf` must provide `f` (resp. `g, f` and `g`).

If `ind=1` nothing is computed (used for display purposes only).

On output, `ind<0` means that `f` cannot be evaluated at `x` and `ind=0` interrupts the optimization.

### Examples

        // External function written in Scilab
        xref=[1;2;3];x0=[1;-1;1]
        deff('[f,g,ind]=cost(x,ind)','f=0.5*norm(x-xref)^2,g=x-xref');
        [f,xopt]=optim(cost,x0)      //Simplest call
        [f,xopt,gopt]=optim(cost,x0,'gc')  // By conjugate gradient
        [f,xopt,gopt]=optim(cost,x0,'nd')  //Seen as non differentiable
        [f,xopt,gopt]=optim(cost,'b',[-1;0;2],[0.5;1;4],x0) //  Bounds on x
        [f,xopt,gopt]=optim(cost,'b',[-1;0;2],[0.5;1;4],x0,'gc') //  Bounds on x
        [f,xopt,gopt]=optim(cost,'b',[-1;0;2],[0.5;1;4],x0,'gc','ar',3)

        // External function written in C (C compiler required)
        // write down the C code (Rosenbrock problem)
        C=['#include <math.h>'
        'double sq(double x)'
        '{ return x*x;}'
        'void rosenc(int *ind, int *n, double *x, double *f, double *g, '
        '                                int *ti, float *tr, double *td)'
        '{'
        '  double p;'
        '  int i;'
        '  p=td[0];'
        '  if (*ind==2||*ind==4) {'
        '    *f=1.0;'
        '    for (i=1;i<*n;i++)'
        '      *f+=p*sq(x[i]-sq(x[i-1]))+sq(1.0-x[i]);'
        '  }'
        '  if (*ind==3||*ind==4) {'
        '    g[0]=-4.0*p*(x[1]-sq(x[0]))*x[0];'
        '    for (i=1;i<*n-1;i++)'
        '      g[i]=2.0*p*(x[i]-sq(x[i-1]))-4.0*p*(x[i+1]-sq(x[i]))*x[i]-2.0*(1.0-x[i]);'
        '    g[*n-1]=2.0*p*(x[*n-1]-sq(x[*n-2]))-2.0*(1.0-x[*n-1]);'
        '  }'
        '}'];
        mputl(C,TMPDIR+'/rosenc.c')
        // compile the C code
        l=ilib_for_link('rosenc','rosenc.o',[],'c',TMPDIR+'/Makefile');
        // incremental linking
        link(l,'rosenc','c')
        //solve the problem
        x0=[40;10;50];
        p=100;
        [f,xo,go]=optim('rosenc',x0,'td',p)

        // External function written in Fortran (Fortran compiler required)
        // write down the Fortran  code (Rosenbrock problem)
     F=[ '      subroutine rosenf(ind, n, x, f, g, ti, tr, td)'
         '      integer ind,n,ti(*)'
         '      double precision x(n),f,g(n),td(*)'
         '      real tr(*)'
         'c'
         '      double precision y,p'
         '      p=td(1)'
         '      if (ind.eq.2.or.ind.eq.4) then'
         '        f=1.0d0'
         '        do i=2,n'
         '          f=f+p*(x(i)-x(i-1)**2)**2+(1.0d0-x(i))**2'
         '        enddo'
         '      endif'
         '      if (ind.eq.3.or.ind.eq.4) then'
         '        g(1)=-4.0d0*p*(x(2)-x(1)**2)*x(1)'
         '        if(n.gt.2) then'
         '          do i=2,n-1'
         '            g(i)=2.0d0*p*(x(i)-x(i-1)**2)-4.0d0*p*(x(i+1)-x(i)**2)*x(i)'
         '     &           -2.0d0*(1.0d0-x(i))'
         '          enddo'
         '        endif'
         '        g(n)=2.0d0*p*(x(n)-x(n-1)**2)-2.0d0*(1.0d0-x(n))'
         '      endif'
         '      return'
         '      end'];

        mputl(F,TMPDIR+'/rosenf.f')
        // compile the Fortran code
        l=ilib_for_link('rosenf','rosenf.o',[],'f',TMPDIR+'/Makefile');
        // incremental linking
        link(l,'rosenf','f')
        //solve the problem
        x0=[40;10;50];
        p=100;
        [f,xo,go]=optim('rosenf',x0,'td',p)

### See Also

`external`, `quapro`, `linpro`, `datafit`, `leastsq`, `numdiff`, `derivative`, `NDcost`,