Samuel Smith Undergraduate Dissertation 2016/17

Visualising the Parameterless Population Pyramid

Supervised by D.Sudholt

Abstract

The parameterless population pyramid is an efficient algorithm which can solve difficult optimisation problems without the need for parameter tuning. It combines local search, model building and crossover to build a pyramid of solutions, which scales with the current problem. The algorithm's novelty and complexity make it unintuitive, so this project documents the design and implementation of a piece of software which allows a user to visualise how it works.

The software uses a GUI to show the structure of the pyramid of solutions and its interaction with local search, model building and crossover. The user can decide the problem to solve, and control the algorithm playback. This report gives a background to P3 and covers how the software was designed and produced.