SolverFactory

SolverFactory is a software construct used in optimization modeling tools to create and configure solver interfaces in a uniform way. By centralizing the creation of solver objects, it decouples a model from a specific solver backend and enables easy switching between solvers without modifying model code. In practice, SolverFactory acts as a registry that maps solver names to concrete interface implementations and produces solver instances on demand.

In Pyomo, for example, SolverFactory is a factory object provided by the modeling environment. Users request a solver by name, such as 'glpk' or 'cplex', and the factory returns an instance bound to the corresponding backend. The registry may expose available options that can be set before solving, and it can report whether a given solver is installed or available on the system. Solvers can then be invoked through a uniform solve call, with results returned in a standard structure that the modeling framework can interpret.

Benefits include portability across solvers, ease of experimentation, and a clean separation of modeling from solving. It also supports parameterization of solver options and, in some implementations, automatic fallbacks or detailed error reporting when a solver is missing or incompatible with the model.

Limitations include dependence on external solver executables and licenses, potential differences in feature support across backends, and the need for the factory’s registry to be kept up to date. See also: Pyomo, optimization solvers, Factory design pattern.