A Field Guide to Genetic Programming [Paperback]

Riccardo Poli (Author), William B. Langdon (Author), Nicholas Freitag McPhee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 26, 2008

Genetic programming (GP) is a systematic, domain-independent method for getting computers to solve problems automatically starting from a high-level statement of what needs to be done. Using ideas from natural evolution, GP starts from an ooze of random computer programs, and progressively refines them through processes of mutation and sexual recombination, until high-fitness solutions emerge. All this without the user having to know or specify the form or structure of solutions in advance. GP has generated a plethora of human-competitive results and applications, including novel scientific discoveries and patentable inventions. This unique overview of this exciting technique is written by three of the most active scientists in GP. See www.gp-field-guide.org.uk for more information on the book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Lulu Enterprises, UK Ltd (March 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1409200736
• ISBN-13: 978-1409200734
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #416,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best introductory book about Genetic Programming, June 9, 2008

By 

Arthur K. Kordon (Lake Jackson, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Field Guide to Genetic Programming (Paperback)

"A Field Guide to Genetic Programming" is the best introductory book about the growing research area of Genetic Programming (GP). Written by some of the leading researchers in the field, the book explains very well the basic concepts of GP and gives a condensed state of the art of the technology. For practitioners, the book offers free Java-based software, called TinyGP and examples of many successful applications. A big benefit of the book is the comprehensive bibliography.
With its popular style and low price, "A Field Guide to Genetic Programming" can open the field to a very broad audience and create a breakthrough in GP applications.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destined to become the standard reference to the field, June 6, 2008

By 

Julian Togelius (Colchester, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Field Guide to Genetic Programming (Paperback)

This book is a comprehensive introduction to GP, and overview of the state of the art of the field, written by the arguably most important reserachers in the field. In other words, everything you could ask for. As a practicing evolutionary computation reserarcher, it gave me a number of new insights about the particular issues involved in evolving programs represented (mostly) as expression trees, and also a good sense of where the current big issues in the field are.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent source book, July 25, 2010

By 

taras "taras" (Montreal) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Field Guide to Genetic Programming (Paperback)

The Field Guide is a clear and concise introduction and reference to all things genetic programming related. It has an excellent introduction to the subject generally, and a good summary of several related theoretical matters. The best part is the review of practical applications, which is very broad. This review incorporates the authors' opinions on when and where GP is usefully applied - given the detailed survey of applications that follows, I trust them.