README

This module implements a rough solution to the bin packing problem. It was originally developed to support an e-commerce merchant's desire to offer a shipping option only if all the items in an order would fit into a certain box. This implementation supports multiple boxes as well.

The bin-packing problem is NP hard. This implementation is a heuristic that won't always provide an optimal solution, but it is fast and it's unlikely to provide a solution that's too difficult for a human to replicate when packing a box with real (physical) items.

Briefly, this algorithm works as follows:

• Largest (by volume) items are packed first.
• Items are packed in layers. Layers are as wide and long as the box and are as tall as the tallest object in the layer.
• Items are packed alongside each other in each layer with the longest edge on the bottom, oriented in a way that yields the largest remaining area.
• If an item doesn't fit in any existing layers, the algorithm starts a new layer.
• Each time an item is added, the algorithm attempts to add it to the lower layers in any remaining spaces (including above other items), unless doing so would increase the height of the layer.
• Each time a new layer is started, the algorithm checks to make sure the total height of the layers hasn't exceeded the box height.

Using NAWebCo\BoxPacker

To install, run composer require nawebco/box-packer in your project's root directory. If you aren't already using Composer's autoloader, be sure to require vendor/autoload.php wherever you need access to the BoxPacker.

Usage example:

<?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';

use NAWebCo\BoxPacker\Packer;
use NAWebCo\BoxPacker\GenericPackable;


$packer = new Packer();

// Width, length, height, description
// The order of the dimensions doesn't matter.
$packer->addBox(new GenericPackable(10, 15, 6, 'Big box'));

// Width, length, height, description
// The order of the dimensions doesn't matter.
$packer->addItem(new GenericPackable(8.5, 11, 2, 'First book'));
$packer->addItem(new GenericPackable(8.5, 11, 1.2, 'Second book'));
$packer->addItem(new GenericPackable(3, 3, 3, 'Carved wooden block'));

$result = $packer->pack();

if( $result->success() ){
    echo "Everything fits!\n\n";

    foreach( $result->getPackedBoxes(true) as $boxResults ){
        $box = $boxResults['box'];
        $contents = $boxResults['contents'];

        $containerDescription = $box->getDescription() ?: 'One box';
        echo "$containerDescription contains:\n";

        foreach( $contents as $item ){
            $itemDescription = $item->getDescription() ?: 'Item';
            echo "$itemDescription ({$item->getWidth()}, {$item->getLength()}, {$item->getHeight()})\n";
        }
    }
} else {
    echo count($result->getNotPackedItems()) . " items didn't fit.";
}

In the example above, packable items are represented by the Solid class. Any class that implements the SolidInterface can be run through the Packer.

Requirements

• PHP version 5.6 or higher

License

NAWebCo\BoxPacker is MIT-licensed.