Volunteer workshift scheduler for a helpline

Code written in Python finds the best possible schedule for volunteers while incorporating constrains and special requirements using CP-SAT Solver (Constraint Programming - boolean SATisfiability problem Solver).

Java version is in development.

The problem

Arranging volunteers for a helpline service for the period of one month.

There are three types of work that could be done on the same day: - Phone shift: Every day. - Chat shift: Mondays and Wednesdays. - Observer shift: Any day.

Constraints:

Properties of each volunteer: - Available days. - Function: doing phone, chat, both or observation for training purposes. - Maximum amount of weekend shifts. - Whether their shifts have to be on separate weeks. - Whether they welcome observers. - Whether they want to work alone. - Whether they cannot yet work alone. - List of people they do not want to work with.

Each volunteer has to have 4 days between their shifts.

Priorities:

1. Have minimum one volunteer for each day.
2. Fill chat shifts.
3. Have a second volunteer even on phone days.
4. Employ observers on days when there is only phone shift.

Objective:

Maximize filled shifts.

---

Installation

Requires 64-bit Python 3.7

pip install helpline-scheduler

Usage

1. Select your language in config.py: EN/HU/CN

Alternatively you can create your XX language extension by creating the corresponding data_XX.csv and language_XX.py files. 2. Export corresponding data/data_XX.csv file into a spreadsheet, fill in your data, then export back into this file. 3. Execute the program from its directory:

python schedule.py

Output

1. Prints results into the terminal and saves it into schedule_YYYY_MM____YYYYMMDD_hhmm.txt.
2. Saves results into schedule_YYYY_MM____YYYYMMDD_hhmm.csv which can be conveniently imported into a spreadsheet.