packer.py

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Each pack is started with an initial placement of two or three balls. These generate the first pockets, which are positions where a ball can be placed so that it makes three or more contacts with other balls and/or the container.

If there is more than one pocket available for the next ball position then the pocket which is chosen is determined by the packing method (from the -M option) -

• up - choose lowest pocket
• in - choose pocket furthest from container centre
• out - choose pocket nearest to container centre
• inup - choose pocket by in, then choose from any equal pockets by up
• outup - choose pocket by out, then choose from any equal pockets by up

When the new ball is added it will often create new pockets. This process of adding balls then finding any new pockets continues until there are no more available pockets, and the pack is complete.

packer.py -M up 1 7 178 points	packer.py -M in 1 7 177 points	packer.py -M out 1 7 139 points

Program Help

usage: packer.py [options] ball_radius container_radius

options
   -h       this help message
   -M mthd  packing method: up - bottom up (default), in - outside to
            centre, out - centre to outside, inup - outside in bottom
            first, outup - centre to outside bottom first.
   -o file  write output to file, if this option is not used
            the program writes to standard output.
   
   ball_radius defaults to 0.3333 and container_radius defaults to 1.0