cuOpt Routing — Python API
This skill is Python only. Routing has no C API in cuOpt.
Required questions
Ask these if not already clear:
- Problem type — TSP, VRP, or PDP?
- Locations — How many? Depot(s)? Cost or distance between pairs (matrix or derived)?
- Orders / tasks — Which locations must be visited? Demand or service per stop?
- Fleet — Number of vehicles, capacity per vehicle (and per dimension if multiple), start/end locations?
- Constraints — Time windows (earliest/latest arrival), service times, precedence (order A before B)?
Minimal VRP Example
pythonimport cudf from cuopt import routing cost_matrix = cudf.DataFrame([...], dtype="float32") dm = routing.DataModel(n_locations=4, n_fleet=2, n_orders=3) dm.add_cost_matrix(cost_matrix) dm.set_order_locations(cudf.Series([1, 2, 3], dtype="int32")) solution = routing.Solve(dm, routing.SolverSettings()) if solution.get_status() == 0: solution.display_routes()
Adding Constraints
python# Time windows dm.add_transit_time_matrix(transit_time_matrix) dm.set_order_time_windows(earliest_series, latest_series) # Capacities dm.add_capacity_dimension("weight", demand_series, capacity_series) dm.set_order_service_times(service_times) dm.set_vehicle_locations(start_locations, end_locations) dm.set_vehicle_time_windows(earliest_start, latest_return) # Pickup-delivery pairs dm.set_pickup_delivery_pairs(pickup_indices, delivery_indices) # Precedence dm.add_order_precedence(node_id=2, preceding_nodes=np.array([0, 1]))
Solution Checking
pythonstatus = solution.get_status() # 0=SUCCESS, 1=FAIL, 2=TIMEOUT, 3=EMPTY if status == 0: route_df = solution.get_route() total_cost = solution.get_total_objective() else: print(solution.get_error_message()) print(solution.get_infeasible_orders().to_list())
Data Types (use explicit dtypes)
pythoncost_matrix = cost_matrix.astype("float32") order_locations = cudf.Series([...], dtype="int32") demand = cudf.Series([...], dtype="int32")
Solver Settings
pythonss = routing.SolverSettings() ss.set_time_limit(30) ss.set_verbose_mode(True) ss.set_error_logging_mode(True)
Common Issues
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Empty solution | Widen time windows or check travel times |
| Infeasible orders | Increase fleet or capacity |
| Status != 0 with time windows | Add add_transit_time_matrix() |
| Wrong cost | Check cost_matrix is symmetric |
compute_waypoint_sequence alters route_df | It replaces the location column with waypoint ids in place — pass route_df.copy() if you still need cost-matrix indices (e.g. when iterating per truck) |
Debugging
When status != 0: print(solution.get_error_message()) and print(solution.get_infeasible_orders().to_list()) to see which orders are infeasible.
Data types: Use explicit dtypes (float32, int32) for matrices and series to avoid silent errors.
Examples
- examples.md — VRP, PDP, multi-depot
- server_examples.md — REST client (curl, Python)
- Reference models: This skill's
assets/— vrp_basic, pdp_basic. See assets/README.md.
Escalate
For contribution or build-from-source, see the developer skill.

