====== Genetic programming ======
The goal of this lab exercise is to get some experience with using genetic programming on various test problems. You are going to use the genetic programming tool implemented in [[https://dev.heuristiclab.com/trac.fcgi/|HeuristicLab]]. You will use it to solve the following problems: 
  * artificial ant problem, the Santa Fe trail
  * symbolic regression
  * classification


===== HeuristicLab =====
[[https://dev.heuristiclab.com/trac.fcgi/|HeuristicLab]] is a framework for heuristic and evolutionary algorithms developed by members of the [[https://heal.heuristiclab.com/|Heuristic and Evolutionary Algorithms Laboratory]] since 2002. There are many machine learning and (meta)heuristic algorithms, not only the evolutionary ones, plus many problems already implemented in the HeuristicLab. Moreover, HeuristicLab comes with a user friendly graphical interface that serves to set the algorithm's parameters and provides the user with various visualizations. 


===== Instalation =====
If using Windows, just download the binaries from [[https://dev.heuristiclab.com/trac.fcgi/wiki/Download|download]] and then run **HeuristicLab 3.3.exe**.

Please note that HeuristicLab also runs on Linux with [[https://www.mono-project.com/|Mono]] but with a limited support available. Check out the [[https://dev.heuristiclab.com/trac.fcgi/wiki/Documentation/DevelopmentCenter/Compile%20HeuristicLab%20under%20Linux|HeuristicLab and Mono Howto]] for more information.


===== Running test problems =====
Execute the **HeuristicLab 3.3.exe** and then:
  * run //HL Optimizer//
  * choose one of the following test problems in the window //Samples// on the tab //Start Page//
    * Genetic Programming - Artificial Ant
    * Genetic Programming - Symbolic regression
    * Genetic Programming - Symbolic Classification

Videos:
  * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL547A94670DA695EE|HeuristicLab playlist]]
  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kbCMWC_EgA|Symbolic Regression with HeuristicLab]]
  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0i8SS0fmg| Symbolic Classification with HeuristicLab]]
===== Changing GP parameters =====

GP parameters can be set on tabs Problem and Algorithm.

**Function set**:
  * Artificial Ant - //Problem// -> //Encoding SymbolicExpressionTree// -> //SymbolicExpressionTree.Grammar: Simple Grammar//
  * Symbolic regression, Symbolic Classification -> //Problem// -> //SymbolicExpressionTreeGrammar: TypeCoherentExpressionGrammar// 

**Fitness**:
  * //Problem// -> //Evaluator// -> //Details// -> //Value//

**Use your own csv input file** for Symbolic Regression:
  * Note: Correct Separator and Decimal Separator must be chosen


===== Results =====

All results, the running as well as the final ones, are under the tab //Results//. 

Besides other statistics there is always the //Best Solution// or the //Best training solution//, that you can explore in detail.
 
 
===== What you should try =====

  * different function sets
  * different training data, e.g. {{:courses:a0m33eoa:cviceni:sr_data.zip |SR_data}}
  * different parameter values 
    * population size,
    * maximum depth of the generated expressions,
    * crossover and mutation rates, 
    * selection
  * ...

And of course, feel free to play with other algorithms and other problems as well!