org.encog.ml.ea.train

Interface EvolutionaryAlgorithm

All Known Implementing Classes:

BasicEA, MLMethodGeneticAlgorithm.MLMethodGeneticAlgorithmHelper, TrainEA

public interface EvolutionaryAlgorithm

This interface defines the basic functionality of an Evolutionary Algorithm. An evolutionary algorithm is one that applies operations to a population of potential "solutions".

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method and Description
void	addOperation(double probability, EvolutionaryOperator opp) Add an operation.
void	addScoreAdjuster(AdjustScore scoreAdjust) Add a score adjuster.
void	calculateScore(Genome g) Calculate the score for a genome.
void	finishTraining() Called when training is finished.
GenomeComparator	getBestComparator() Get the comparator that is used to choose the "true best" genome.
Genome	getBestGenome()
GeneticCODEC	getCODEC()
double	getError()
int	getIteration()
int	getMaxIndividualSize()
int	getMaxTries()
OperationList	getOperators()
Population	getPopulation()
java.util.List<AdjustScore>	getScoreAdjusters()
CalculateScore	getScoreFunction()
SelectionOperator	getSelection()
GenomeComparator	getSelectionComparator() Get the comparator that is used to choose the "best" genome for selection, as opposed to the "true best".
boolean	getShouldIgnoreExceptions()
Speciation	getSpeciation()
boolean	isValidationMode()
void	iteration() Perform a training iteration.
void	setBestComparator(GenomeComparator bestComparator) Set the comparator that is used to choose the "true best" genome.
void	setPopulation(Population thePopulation) Set the population.
void	setSelection(SelectionOperator selection) Set the selection operator.
void	setSelectionComparator(GenomeComparator selectionComparator) Set the comparator that is used to choose the "best" genome for selection, as opposed to the "true best".
void	setShouldIgnoreExceptions(boolean b) Determines if genetic operator exceptions should be ignored.
void	setSpeciation(Speciation m) Set the speciation method.
void	setValidationMode(boolean validationMode) Determine if the genomes should be validated.

Method Detail

addOperation

void addOperation(double probability,
                  EvolutionaryOperator opp)

Add an operation.

Parameters:

probability - The probability of using this operator.

opp - The operator to add.

addScoreAdjuster

void addScoreAdjuster(AdjustScore scoreAdjust)

Add a score adjuster. Score adjusters are used to adjust the adjusted score of a genome. This allows bonuses and penalties to be applied for desirable or undesirable traits.

Parameters:

scoreAdjust - The score adjustor to add.

calculateScore

void calculateScore(Genome g)

Calculate the score for a genome.

Parameters:

g - The genome to calculate the score for.

finishTraining

void finishTraining()

Called when training is finished. This allows the EA to properly shut down.

getBestComparator

GenomeComparator getBestComparator()

Get the comparator that is used to choose the "true best" genome. This uses the real score, and not the adjusted score.

Returns:

The best comparator.

getBestGenome

Genome getBestGenome()

Returns:

The current best genome. This genome is safe to use while the EA is running. Genomes are not modified. They simply produce "offspring".

getCODEC

GeneticCODEC getCODEC()

Returns:

The CODEC that is used to transform between genome and phenome.

getError

double getError()

Returns:

The current score. This value should either be minimized or maximized, depending on the score function.

getIteration

int getIteration()

Returns:

The current iteration number. Also sometimes referred to as generation or epoch.

getMaxIndividualSize

int getMaxIndividualSize()

Returns:

The maximum size an individual genome can be. This is an arbitrary number defined by the genome. Lower numbers are less complex.

getMaxTries

int getMaxTries()

Returns:

The maximum number to try certain genetic operations. This prevents endless loops.

getOperators

OperationList getOperators()

Returns:

The operators.

getPopulation

Population getPopulation()

Returns:

The population.

getScoreAdjusters

java.util.List<AdjustScore> getScoreAdjusters()

Returns:

The score adjusters. This allows bonuses and penalties to be applied for desirable or undesirable traits.

getScoreFunction

CalculateScore getScoreFunction()

Returns:

The score function.

getSelection

SelectionOperator getSelection()

Returns:

The selection operator. Used to choose genomes.

getSelectionComparator

GenomeComparator getSelectionComparator()

Get the comparator that is used to choose the "best" genome for selection, as opposed to the "true best". This uses the adjusted score, and not the score.

Returns:

The selection comparator.

getShouldIgnoreExceptions

boolean getShouldIgnoreExceptions()

Returns:

True if exceptions that occur during genetic operations should be ignored.

getSpeciation

Speciation getSpeciation()

Returns:

The speciation method.

isValidationMode

boolean isValidationMode()

Returns:

True if any genome validators should be applied.

iteration

void iteration()

Perform a training iteration. Also called generations or epochs.

setBestComparator

void setBestComparator(GenomeComparator bestComparator)

Set the comparator that is used to choose the "true best" genome. This uses the real score, and not the adjusted score.

Parameters:

bestComparator - The best comparator.

setPopulation

void setPopulation(Population thePopulation)

Set the population.

Parameters:

thePopulation - The population.

setSelection

void setSelection(SelectionOperator selection)

Set the selection operator.

Parameters:

selection - The selection operator.

setSelectionComparator

void setSelectionComparator(GenomeComparator selectionComparator)

Set the comparator that is used to choose the "best" genome for selection, as opposed to the "true best". This uses the adjusted score, and not the score.

Parameters:

selectionComparator - The selection comparator.

setShouldIgnoreExceptions

void setShouldIgnoreExceptions(boolean b)

Determines if genetic operator exceptions should be ignored.

Parameters:

b - True if exceptions should be ignored.

setSpeciation

void setSpeciation(Speciation m)

Set the speciation method.

Parameters:

m - The speciation method.

setValidationMode

void setValidationMode(boolean validationMode)

Determine if the genomes should be validated. This takes more time but can help isolate a problem.

Parameters:

validationMode - True, if validation mode is enabled.