GAPS: a genetic programming system

Genetic programming tackles the issue of how to automatically create a working computer program for a given problem from some initial problem statement. The goal is accomplished in genetic programming by genetically breeding a population of computer programs in terms of the principles of Darwinian natural selection of the fittest and genetic operations. We describe a genetic programming system called GAPS. GAPS has the following features: it implements the prototypical generational algorithm for genetic programming with three improvements (the honor roll, improved termination criteria and the tree techniques for fitness evaluation); it includes an extensible language tailored to the needs of genetic programming; and it is a complete, standalone system that allows for genetic programming tasks to be carried our without requiring other tools such as compilers. Preliminary results with GAPS have been satisfactory