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Optimal Solver Engines: CPLEX vs CBC

Updated August 01, 2024


This article applies to:
  • Softree Optimal

Softree Optimal uses a MIPL Solver Engine to do the base level optimization calculations. The solver engine can be either CBC or CPLEX.

  • CBC – is free, open-source engine.
  • CPLEX – is a commercial product produced and supported by IBM. Softree has established an agreement wherein Softree customers can deploy CPLEX in Softree Optimal at a significant discount.

The key benefit of using CPLEX over CBC is speed. Difficult road optimization problems can take hours. CPLEX has proven to be consistently faster and robust. Speed improvements in the order of 10 times faster are quite common.