Fusing Exploration and Exploitation: Hybrid Fireworks–Whale Optimization for Multi-Objective Independent Task Scheduling in Cloud Environments

Task scheduling in cloud computing environments is a complex, multi-objective optimization problem that requires balancing conflicting goals such as minimizing execution time and cost while maximizing resource utilization and throughput. Metaheuristic algorithms have proven effective for tackling such problems due to their adaptability and global search capabilities. In this work, we propose a novel family of hybrid scheduling algorithms that combine the strengths of two well-established metaheuristics: the Fireworks Algorithm (FWA)—known for its diverse exploration of the search space—and the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)—recognized for its effective local exploitation. Uniquely, we design four distinct hybridization strategies: Sequential Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid, FWA-Encircling Hybrid, and WOA-Spark Hybrid, each integrating FWA and WOA in a fundamentally different manner. To the best of our…