Cuopt Server API Python Agent Skill
cuOpt REST server — start server, endpoints, Python/curl client examples. Use when the user is deploying or calling the REST API.
Install
one command, takes just this skill from the repositorynpx skills add https://github.com/NVIDIA/skills --skill cuopt-server-api-pythonWhat comes with it
31 749 bytes besides the instructionThe instruction itself
11 sections, as written by the authorcuOpt Server — Deploy and client (Python/curl)
This skill covers starting the server and client examples (curl, Python). Server has no separate C API (clients can be any language).
Problem types supported
| Problem type | Supported |
|--------------|:---------:|
| Routing | ✓ |
| LP | ✓ |
| MILP | ✓ |
| QP | ✗ |
Required questions
Ask these if not already clear:
- Problem type — Routing or LP/MILP? (QP not available via REST.)
- Deployment — Local, Docker, Kubernetes, or cloud?
- Client — Which language or tool will call the API (e.g. Python, curl, another service)?
Start server
# Development
python -m cuopt_server.cuopt_service --ip 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
# Docker
docker run --gpus all -d -p 8000:8000 -e CUOPT_SERVER_PORT=8000 \
nvidia/cuopt:latest-cuda12.9-py3.13
Verify
curl http://localhost:8000/cuopt/health
Workflow
- POST to
/cuopt/request→ getreqId - Poll
/cuopt/solution/{reqId}until solution ready - Parse response
Python client (routing)
import requests, time
SERVER = "http://localhost:8000"
HEADERS = {"Content-Type": "application/json", "CLIENT-VERSION": "custom"}
payload = {
"cost_matrix_data": {"data": {"0": [[0,10,15],[10,0,12],[15,12,0]]}},
"travel_time_matrix_data": {"data": {"0": [[0,10,15],[10,0,12],[15,12,0]]}},
"task_data": {"task_locations": [1, 2], "demand": [[10, 20]], "task_time_windows": [[0,100],[0,100]], "service_times": [5, 5]},
"fleet_data": {"vehicle_locations": [[0, 0]], "capacities": [[50]], "vehicle_time_windows": [[0, 200]]},
"solver_config": {"time_limit": 5}
}
r = requests.post(f"{SERVER}/cuopt/request", json=payload, headers=HEADERS)
req_id = r.json()["reqId"]
# Poll: GET /cuopt/solution/{req_id}
Terminology: REST vs Python API
| Python API | REST |
|------------|------|
| order_locations | task_locations |
| set_order_time_windows() | task_time_windows |
| service_times | service_times |
Use travel_time_matrix_data (not transit_time_matrix_data). Capacities: [[50, 50]] not [[50], [50]].
Debugging (422 / payload)
Validation errors: Check field names against OpenAPI (/cuopt.yaml). Common mistakes: transit_time_matrix_data → travel_time_matrix_data; capacities per dimension [[50, 50]] not per vehicle [[50], [50]]. Capture reqId and response body for failed requests.
Runnable assets
Run from each asset directory (server must be running; scripts exit 0 if server unreachable). All use Python requests:
- assets/vrp_simple/ — Basic VRP (no time windows)
- assets/vrp_basic/ — VRP with time windows
- assets/pdp_basic/ — Pickup and delivery
- assets/lp_basic/ — LP via REST (CSR format)
- assets/milp_basic/ — MILP via REST
See assets/README.md for overview.
Escalate
For contribution or build-from-source, see the developer skill.
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