EZSMT Version 3, Matured

2026-07-14

AI Summary

This work addresses the challenge of efficiently integrating constraints and logical reasoning in complex combinatorial search by proposing a scalable translation-based Constraint Answer Set Programming (CASP) framework. The approach seamlessly combines Answer Set Programming with Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT), leveraging mature SMT solvers—such as CVC5, Yices, and Z3—to enable efficient reasoning over mixed integer and real-valued constraints. The framework introduces a more expressive input language that supports weak constraint optimization and provides a unified architecture for incorporating novel constraint types. Experimental results demonstrate that the system substantially outperforms state-of-the-art solvers, including CLINGCON, CLINGO[DL], and CLINGO[LP], achieving significant improvements in both expressiveness and solving efficiency on standard benchmarks.

Abstract

Constraint Answer Set Programming (CASP) is a hybrid reasoning paradigm that combines Answer Set Programming (ASP) with Constraint Processing and Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT), enabling powerful declarative encodings of complex combinatorial search problems. This paper presents the design and implementation of EZSMTV3, an extensible SMT-based CASP framework that advances the translational approach to CASP solving. Building upon the foundation of the EZSMT+ system, EZSMTV3 introduces a more expressive input language, supports optimization via weak constraints, and offers foundations for streamlined integration of new constraint types. Rather than implementing custom search procedures, EZSMTV3 leverages state-of-the-art SMT solvers, such as CVC5, YICES, and Z3 to perform reasoning. The paper provides benchmarking results comparing EZSMTV3 with its CASP peers such as CLINGCON, CLINGO[DL], and CLINGO[LP], while showcasing its ability to handle mixed-domain constraints involving both integers and reals. The system provides a robust platform for future extensions and theoretical exploration within the CASP domain.

Problem

• Constraint Answer Set Programming
• SMT
• optimization
• mixed-domain constraints
• extensible framework

Innovation

• Constraint Answer Set Programming
• SMT-based translation
• weak constraints
• mixed-domain constraints
• extensible framework