What are the best practices for documenting OR models in different languages?

1 Why document OR models?

Documenting OR models is essential for any OR practitioner or researcher, as it helps to explain the purpose, assumptions, and logic of the model, validate and test it for correctness and robustness, modify and update it when necessary, as well as reproduce and share it with other OR users or stakeholders.

4 How to document OR models in programming language?

Programming language is a computer-based way of expressing OR models, using specific syntax and commands to define and solve a model. There are many OR programming languages, such as AMPL, GAMS, Python, or R. To document OR models in programming language, you should adhere to the rules and conventions of the chosen language, such as indentation, punctuation, or keywords. Furthermore, it's important to use meaningful and descriptive names for variables, parameters, and sets and avoid reserved words or symbols. Additionally, include comments or docstrings to explain the purpose, functionality, and output of your code blocks, functions, or modules. You should also use

tags to format your code blocks and highlight the syntax and keywords. Finally, include examples or tests to demonstrate how to run and use your code blocks, functions, or modules.
###### How to document OR models in natural language?
Natural language is a verbal way of expressing OR models, which can be used to communicate models to non-technical audiences or stakeholders. To document OR models in natural language, sentences and paragraphs should be kept simple and concise, avoiding jargon or technical terms. Context and background information for the problem, model, and solution should also be provided, such as the motivation, objectives, scope, or limitations. Additionally, it is important to summarize the main components and features of the model, such as the decision variables, objective function, and constraints, and explain how they relate to the problem. The results and implications of the solution should also be presented, such as the optimal values, sensitivity analysis, or recommendations. Tables, figures, or charts can supplement your text and should have titles and references.
###### How to document OR models in mixed language?
Mixed language, which combines different languages to express OR models, can be beneficial for integrating different aspects or perspectives of OR models, or for comparing or contrasting them. When documenting OR models in mixed language, you should choose the most suitable and compatible languages for your model, problem, and audience and explain why they were chosen. Additionally, it is important to maintain consistency and clarity among the different languages, while avoiding redundancy or contradiction. To link the different languages, transitions or connectors should be used to indicate the correspondence or difference between them. Cross-references or citations should be provided for the sources or resources of the different languages, and authors or contributors should be acknowledged. Finally, headings, subheadings, or sections should be used to organize and structure your document, and a table of contents or an outline should be provided for easy navigation.
######Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?