MicroGP (
µGP) is a versatile optimizer able to outperform both human experts and conventional heuristics in finding the optimal solution of hard problems. Given a task, it first fosters a set of random solutions, then iteratively refines and enhance them. Its heuristic algorithm uses the result of the evaluations, together with some internal structural information, to efficiently explore the search space, and eventually to produce the optimal solution. µGP has been devised in
2002, and subsequently developed thanks to the effort of
several people.
MicroGP original application was the creation of
assembly-language programs for
testing different microprocessors, hence the Greek letter µ (micro) in its name.
Afterward, it has been used on a wider range of problems, such as: creation of
test programs for
pre- and
post-silicon validation; design of
bayesian networks; creation of
mathematical functions represented as
trees;
integer and
combinatorial optimization;
real-value parameter optimization; and even creation of
corewar warriors.
MicroGP is an
evolutionary algorithm, hence the GP acronym (genetic programming) in its name. A population of different solutions is considered in each step of the search process, and new individuals are generated through mechanisms that ape both
sexual and
asexual reproduction. New solutions
inherit distinctive traits from existing ones, and may
coalesce the good characteristics of different parents. Better solutions have a greater chance to reproduce and to succeed in the simulated
struggle for existence.
MicroGP3 is distributed under the
GNU Public License (GPL). Version 3 is also known as µGP
3, ugp3 (due to typographic limitations) and MicroGP++ (being written in C++).
Comprehensive
instructions and the updated
documentation can be found online in the
µGP wiki.
For the practitioner, the wiki's
step-by-step tutorials help understanding the gory details of
configuring the tool,
running it and
tweaking its many parameters.
For the programmer, the wiki explains the
design rationale, and details the
internal architecture of the toolkit.
Sourceforge kindly hosts MicroGP3 project
project.
JetBrains grants free licenses of
CLion to developers.
Radio Paradise plays the soundtrack for development.
New major version: https://squillero.github.io/microgp4/
