diff --git a/lemon/lp_skeleton.h b/lemon/lp_skeleton.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lemon/lp_skeleton.h
@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+/* -*- mode: C++; indent-tabs-mode: nil; -*-
+ *
+ * This file is a part of LEMON, a generic C++ optimization library.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2008
+ * Egervary Jeno Kombinatorikus Optimalizalasi Kutatocsoport
+ * (Egervary Research Group on Combinatorial Optimization, EGRES).
+ *
+ * Permission to use, modify and distribute this software is granted
+ * provided that this copyright notice appears in all copies. For
+ * precise terms see the accompanying LICENSE file.
+ *
+ * This software is provided "AS IS" with no warranty of any kind,
+ * express or implied, and with no claim as to its suitability for any
+ * purpose.
+ *
+ */
+
+#ifndef LEMON_LP_SKELETON_H
+#define LEMON_LP_SKELETON_H
+
+#include <lemon/lp_base.h>
+
+///\file
+///\brief Skeleton file to implement LP/MIP solver interfaces
+///  
+///The classes in this file do nothing, but they can serve as skeletons when
+///implementing an interface to new solvers.
+namespace lemon {
+
+  ///A skeleton class to implement LP/MIP solver base interface
+  
+  ///This class does nothing, but it can serve as a skeleton when
+  ///implementing an interface to new solvers.
+  class SkeletonSolverBase : public virtual LpBase {
+    int col_num,row_num;
+
+  protected:
+
+    SkeletonSolverBase()
+      : col_num(-1), row_num(-1) {}
+
+    /// \e
+    virtual int _addCol();
+    /// \e
+    virtual int _addRow();
+    /// \e
+    virtual int _addRow(Value l, ExprIterator b, ExprIterator e, Value u);
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _eraseCol(int i);
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _eraseRow(int i);
+
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _getColName(int col, std::string& name) const;
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _setColName(int col, const std::string& name);
+    /// \e
+    virtual int _colByName(const std::string& name) const;
+
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _getRowName(int row, std::string& name) const;
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _setRowName(int row, const std::string& name);
+    /// \e
+    virtual int _rowByName(const std::string& name) const;
+
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _setRowCoeffs(int i, ExprIterator b, ExprIterator e);
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _getRowCoeffs(int i, InsertIterator b) const;
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _setColCoeffs(int i, ExprIterator b, ExprIterator e);
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _getColCoeffs(int i, InsertIterator b) const;
+
+    /// Set one element of the coefficient matrix
+    virtual void _setCoeff(int row, int col, Value value);
+
+    /// Get one element of the coefficient matrix
+    virtual Value _getCoeff(int row, int col) const;
+
+    /// The lower bound of a variable (column) have to be given by an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or -\ref INF.
+    virtual void _setColLowerBound(int i, Value value);
+    /// \e
+
+    /// The lower bound of a variable (column) is an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or -\ref INF.
+    virtual Value _getColLowerBound(int i) const;
+
+    /// The upper bound of a variable (column) have to be given by an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or \ref INF.
+    virtual void _setColUpperBound(int i, Value value);
+    /// \e
+
+    /// The upper bound of a variable (column) is an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or \ref INF.
+    virtual Value _getColUpperBound(int i) const;
+
+    /// The lower bound of a constraint (row) have to be given by an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or -\ref INF.
+    virtual void _setRowLowerBound(int i, Value value);
+    /// \e
+
+    /// The lower bound of a constraint (row) is an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or -\ref INF.
+    virtual Value _getRowLowerBound(int i) const;
+
+    /// The upper bound of a constraint (row) have to be given by an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or \ref INF.
+    virtual void _setRowUpperBound(int i, Value value);
+    /// \e
+
+    /// The upper bound of a constraint (row) is an
+    /// extended number of type Value, i.e. a finite number of type
+    /// Value or \ref INF.
+    virtual Value _getRowUpperBound(int i) const;
+
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _setObjCoeffs(ExprIterator b, ExprIterator e);
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _getObjCoeffs(InsertIterator b) const;
+
+    /// \e
+    virtual void _setObjCoeff(int i, Value obj_coef);
+    /// \e
+    virtual Value _getObjCoeff(int i) const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual void _setSense(Sense);
+    ///\e
+    virtual Sense _getSense() const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual void _clear();
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual void _messageLevel(MessageLevel);
+  };
+
+  /// \brief Skeleton class for an LP solver interface
+  ///
+  ///This class does nothing, but it can serve as a skeleton when
+  ///implementing an interface to new solvers.
+
+  ///\ingroup lp_group
+  class LpSkeleton : public LpSolver, public SkeletonSolverBase {
+  public:
+    ///\e
+    LpSkeleton() : LpSolver(), SkeletonSolverBase() {}
+    ///\e
+    virtual LpSkeleton* newSolver() const;
+    ///\e
+    virtual LpSkeleton* cloneSolver() const;
+  protected:
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual SolveExitStatus _solve();
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getPrimal(int i) const;
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getDual(int i) const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getPrimalValue() const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getPrimalRay(int i) const;
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getDualRay(int i) const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual ProblemType _getPrimalType() const;
+    ///\e
+    virtual ProblemType _getDualType() const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual VarStatus _getColStatus(int i) const;
+    ///\e
+    virtual VarStatus _getRowStatus(int i) const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual const char* _solverName() const;
+
+  };
+
+  /// \brief Skeleton class for a MIP solver interface
+  ///
+  ///This class does nothing, but it can serve as a skeleton when
+  ///implementing an interface to new solvers.
+  ///\ingroup lp_group
+  class MipSkeleton : public MipSolver, public SkeletonSolverBase {
+  public:
+    ///\e
+    MipSkeleton() : MipSolver(), SkeletonSolverBase() {}
+    ///\e
+    virtual MipSkeleton* newSolver() const;
+    ///\e
+    virtual MipSkeleton* cloneSolver() const;
+
+  protected:
+    ///\e
+    virtual SolveExitStatus _solve();
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getSol(int i) const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual Value _getSolValue() const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual ProblemType _getType() const;
+
+    ///\e
+    virtual const char* _solverName() const;
+  };
+
+} //namespace lemon
+
+#endif