Genetic programming: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:54, 6 September 2004

Revision as of 12:17, 24 September 2004

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Genetic programming uses methods which are similar to [[genetic algorithm]]s (GA), but is based on programs which perform tasks whose results can then be evaluated to deliver a fitness function similar to GAs. Instead of using pools of parameter lists to be evaluated by some evaluation procedure, GP uses pools of programs which are to be run to perform the required task. A technical difference between GAs and GPs is that GAs use list structures, often of fixed size, to store their data, while GPs use tree structures which can vary in size and shape for each program used in the program pools.

The application of a tree representation (and required genetic operators) for using genetic algorithms to generate programs was first described in 1985 by Cramer. Koza, though he did first explore genetic programming, is indisputably the field's most prolific and persuasive author. Koza and other early GP researchers used the artificial inteligence language [[Lisp_programming_language|Lisp]] to program their GPs.

So far GPs have successfully solved may of AI's toy problems, but the method is very computationally intensive, and may not compare favourably where simpler methods, such as [[genetic algorithm]]s or [[random optimisation]] can be used instead. It is possible that some more complex problems may be more amenable to solution using GPs than other optimization methods.