scipy/scipy — pull request #94 by dlaxalde (2011-10-19 18:53:58+00:00)
Title: Enh: interface to unconstrained minimization algorithms for multivariate functions

This is the first step of my [enhancement plan](https://github.com/dlaxalde/scipy/wiki/Improvements-to-optimize-package) for the optimization module. It concerns unconstrained minimization of multivariate functions.

Summary of changes:
- `minimize`: new wrapper called to replace `fmin`, `fmin_powell`, `fmin_bfgs`, `fmin_cg` and `fmin_ncg`;
- `_minimize_{neldermead,powell,cg,ncg,bfgs}` functions: internal clones of the latter functions with standardized signature;
- tests updated to cover both the new and old implementation;
- deprecation of old functions.