In an era of AI and Big Data, optimization is the hidden engine. Every time you see an Uber matched with a rider, a warehouse robot avoiding a collision, or a Netflix server caching a movie—that is INF8770 in action.
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. Inf8770
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. In an era of AI and Big Data,
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. C++ or Java is better if the professor benchmarks for speed
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.