goat 1.1 - an optimization solver component

This is a first update to version 1.0 of goat, available for download from

http://www.rechenraum.com/goat/download.html

Its main focus is on improving usability:

• During optimization, a simple progress bar gives graphical feedback that the optimization is still alive. A cancel button allows the user to manually stop the optimization any time.

• More verbose information on why the optimization stopped.

• Implemented GH_AssemblyInfo for better overview of installed components.

• Checking for recommended Grasshopper version.

• bugfix: In some rare cases, not the best solution was returned as result of the optimization.

This release prepares the setting for a first tutorial on the use of goat (we wanted to have a proper termination for global optimization for this). This release does not yet address two major issues that were reported against version 1.0:

• The stopping criteria do not work reliable for global optimization. We suggest to use a time threshold to stop the optimization after a certain amount of time (fourth stopping criteria in configuration dialog). Alternatively, stop the optimization by clicking the cancel button in the new progress dialog. Both will return the best found solution so far.

• goat is reported to not work with the 64-bit version of Rhino 5.0. There is currently no work-around for this issue, but a fix has highest priority now.

We are working on resolving both issues and will update goat as soon as a fix is available.

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback so far, keep it going!