SAT Solver Etudes I: A Deep Dive into Boolean Satisfiability

This blog post explores the fascinating world of SAT solvers, tracing their evolution from simple brute-force approaches to sophisticated algorithms like Davis-Putnam and Conflict-Driven Clause Learning (CDCL). It compares different techniques, highlighting recent advancements such as congruence closure, clausal equivalence sweeping, and bounded variable addition that have dramatically improved performance. The author provides Python code examples illustrating brute-force, Davis-Putnam-based, and given-clause-loop solvers. The post also touches upon partial evaluation techniques and future research directions, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the intricacies of Boolean satisfiability.