Integrating MiniZinc with ASP Chef: Browser-Based Constraint Programming for Education and Prototyping

In this paper, we present the integration of MiniZinc into ASP Chef, expanding its capabilities to include constraint programming alongside Answer Set Programming (ASP). By leveraging the web assembly version of MiniZinc, this integration allows for running MiniZinc models directly in the browser, eliminating the need for additional software installations. This browser-based approach is particularly advantageous for educational settings and rapid prototyping, offering a seamless and accessible environment for learners and practitioners. To facilitate the incorporation of MiniZinc in ASP recipes, we have implemented a mapping mechanism that converts facts to MiniZinc data and vice versa. This integration not only broadens the scope of problems that can be addressed using ASP Chef but also simplifies the workflow for users, making it a versatile tool for complex computational tasks.