[Ipopt] redistribution of the ipopt binaries

[Andreas Waechter]

Hi Amit,

It is possible to distribute Ipopt binaries, as long as you only use 
third-party components that have licenses that allow you to do that. For 
example, the MUMPS linear solver is public domain, so you can distribute 
Ipopt binaries with that one but a code like MA27 or MA57 would require 
you to obtain a license.  Some companies (e.g., GAMS and AIMMS) are 
distributing Ipopt binaries.  (I have to state here that I'm not an 
attorney and that I cannot give you legal advice, and that in the end it 
is your responsibility to make sure that you have the right to 
distributed any code...)

Here it is worth to keep in mind that the "free" version (MUMPS or 
netlib BLAS/LAPACK) might not be the most efficient code and might lead 
to inferior performance as if one uses Ipopt with tuned BLAS/LAPACK and 
a high-performance linear solver.  However, it is possible to compile 
the Ipopt binaries in a way so that the executable can link to some of 
the efficient linear solvers at runtime (I think this is happening by 
default).  In this way, you can distribute a binary that could still use 
additional linear solvers, if the user does some extra work.

One the other hand, if you want, you can contribute your python 
interface to the Ipopt distribution (assuming you agree/can agree to 
having it distributed under the EPL).  But it might be easier to keep 
those things separate.

Hope this helps,

Andreas Waechter

Associate Professor
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences
McCormick School of Engineering
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL 60208
USA


On 01/18/2012 01:26 AM, Amit Aides wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I was wandering if it is possible to include the Ipopt binaries with 
> cyipopt (http://code.google.com/p/cyipopt/). These should simplify its 
> installation. Are there any licensing issues regarding the 
> redistribution of the Ipopt binaries (or any of its parts)? If so, 
> maybe it is possible to include cyipopt with the Ipopt distribution 
> (as done with the Matlab/Java interfaces).
>
> Thanks,
> Amit
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