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).

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.

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.

Sample Output