# Evolutionary computation
## MicroSim spec
- **Recommended sim type:** evolutionary / agent-based
- **Microsimmability score:** 82/100
- **Layout:** drawing region (canvas) on top; control region (sliders/buttons) below.
### Parameters (tunable controls)
- `Population size`
- `Mutation rate`
- `Selection pressure`
### What animates
Candidate solutions reproduce with variation and the population improves as selection changes.
### Learning objective
Show how population-level variation and selection optimize solutions.
## Links (Wikipedia order)
<!-- injected from _registry/childlinks/Evolutionary_computation.json (2026-07-30T02:09:12Z) -->
`ACM_SIGEVO` · `Academic_journal` · `Alan_Turing` · `Alex_Fraser_(scientist)` · [[Algorithm]] · `Artificial_Life_(journal)` · `Artificial_development` · `Artificial_immune_system` · [[Artificial_intelligence]] · [[Artificial_life]] · `Association_for_Computing_Machinery` · `Bees_algorithm` · `CMA-ES` · `Cartesian_genetic_programming` · `Cellular_evolutionary_algorithm` · `Charles_Darwin` · `Chromosome_(evolutionary_algorithm)` · `Clonal_selection_algorithm` · `Competitive_learning` · `Completeness_(logic)` · `Computational_intelligence` · [[Computer_science]] · `Crossover_(evolutionary_algorithm)` · `Cuckoo_search` · `Cultural_algorithm` · `David_B._Fogel` · `David_E._Goldberg` · `Developmental_biology` · `Differential_evolution` · `Digital_organism` · `Dual-phase_evolution` · `Effective_fitness` · `Elsevier` · `Estimation_of_distribution_algorithm` · `EvoStar` · [[Evolution]] · `Evolution_strategy` · `Evolutionary_Computation_(journal)` · `Evolutionary_algorithm` · `Evolutionary_biology` · `Evolutionary_data_mining` · `Evolutionary_multimodal_optimization` · `Evolutionary_programming` · [[Evolutionary_robotics]] · `Evolved_antenna` · [[Finite-state_machine]] · `Firefly_algorithm` · `Fitness_(biology)` · `Fitness_approximation` · `Fitness_function` · `Fitness_landscape` · [[Fluid_dynamics]] · `Fly_algorithm` · `Gaussian_adaptation` · `Gene_expression_programming` · [[Genetic_algorithm]] · `Genetic_and_Evolutionary_Computation_Conference` · `Genetic_fuzzy_systems` · `Genetic_memory_(computer_science)` · `Genetic_operator` · [[Genetic_programming]] · `Genetic_recombination` · `Global_optimization` · `Gradient_descent` · `Grammar_induction` · `Grammatical_evolution` · `Hans-Paul_Schwefel` · `High-level_programming_language` · `Hindawi_(publisher)` · `Human-based_evolutionary_computation` · `IEEE_Congress_on_Evolutionary_Computation` · `IEEE_Transactions_on_Evolutionary_Computation` · `Ingo_Rechenberg` · `Institute_of_Electrical_and_Electronics_Engineers` · `Interactive_evolutionary_computation` · [[John_Henry_Holland]] · `John_Koza` · `Journal_of_Molecular_Evolution` · `Kalyanmoy_Deb` · `Lawrence_J._Fogel` · `Learnable_evolution_model` · `Learning_classifier_system` · `Lecture_Notes_in_Computer_Science` · `Linear_genetic_programming` · `Lisp_(programming_language)` · `Loss_function` · `MIT_Press` · [[Machine_learning]] · [[Mathematical_optimization]] · `Mating_pool` · `Melanie_Mitchell` · `Memetic_algorithm` · `Metaheuristic` · `Multi_expression_programming` · `Mutation` · `Mutation_(evolutionary_algorithm)` · `Mutation_testing` · `Natural_evolution_strategy` · `Natural_selection` · [[Neural_network]] · `Neuroevolution` · `Nils_Aall_Barricelli` · `No_free_lunch_in_search_and_optimization` · `OMICS_Publishing_Group` · `Parallel_Problem_Solving_from_Nature` · [[Particle_swarm_optimization]] · `Peter_J._Fleming` · `Peter_Nordin` · `Philosophical_Transactions_of_the_Royal_Society_A` · `Population_(biology)` · `Population_model_(evolutionary_algorithm)` · `Premature_convergence` · `Program_synthesis` · `Promoter_based_genetic_algorithm` · [[Reinforcement_learning]] · `Reproduction` · `Riccardo_Poli` · `S-expression` · `Schema_(genetic_algorithms)` · `Selection_(evolutionary_algorithm)` · [[Self-organization]] · `Self-organizing_map` · `Soft_computing` · `Springer_Nature` · `Springer_Publishing` · [[Stephanie_Forrest]] · `Stochastic` · `Stochastic_optimization` · `Swarm_intelligence` · [[Systems_biology]] · `Test_functions_for_optimization` · `Theo_Jansen` · `Trial_and_error` · `Unconventional_computing` · `Universal_Darwinism` · `University_of_Michigan` · `University_of_Michigan_Press` · [[Wayback_Machine]] · `Zbigniew_Michalewicz`
## From the Real GENERATIVE library (beauty pass)
*Evolutionary computation — animation hotlinked from Wikimedia Commons (via the Real G.E.N.E.R.A.T.I.V.E. course library, Robotics room). [Details & license](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darwin_image_evolution_from_random_patches.gif).*
*Evolutionary computation — image hotlinked from Wikimedia Commons (via the Real G.E.N.E.R.A.T.I.V.E. course library, Robotics room). [Details & license](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darwin%27s_finches_by_Gould.jpg).*
> In computer science, evolutionary computation is a family of algorithms for global optimization inspired by biological evolution, and the subfield of artificial intelligence and soft computing studying these algorithms. In technical terms, they are a family of population-based trial and error problem solvers with a metaheuristic or stochastic optimization character. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_computation))
<!-- BEAUTY-PASS-MEDIA:END -->
> p5.js MicroSim stub · part of Systems Thinking · [Wikipedia source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_computation)
> Relation: subfield of systems thinking.
## Concept summary
Evolutionary computation from [[Computer_science|computer science]] is a family of algorithms for global optimization inspired by biological [[Evolution|evolution]], and the subfield of [[Artificial_intelligence|artificial intelligence]] and soft computing studying these algorithms. In technical terms, they are a family of population-based trial and error ...
## Build checklist
- [ ] Claim it: set `status: in-progress` + `lease` + `leased_at`
- [ ] Write the child page explaining the concept (tie it back to systems thinking)
- [ ] Finalize parameter ranges and defaults
- [ ] Implement the p5.js sketch (drawing + control regions)
- [ ] Add caption + the learning objective on the page
- [ ] Set `status: done`
## p5.js sketch
```javascript
// MicroSim: Evolutionary computation
let controls = {};
function setup() {
// createCanvas(...); create sliders for the parameters above.
}
function draw() {
// background(...); read controls; render evolutionary / agent-based; respond live.
}
```
---
Back to Systems Thinking · Wikipedia: [Evolutionary computation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_computation)
---
<!-- SEMIOTIC-PROFILE:START -->
## Semiotic profile
> *The semiotic universals this article invokes, machine-derived from the crossref — **unverified** (born so). Populated 2026-07-06 for the Systems room.*
**Universals (5):** 🟡 system (10) · 🟢 optimization (8) · 🟡 science (7) · 🟡 evolution (4) · 🟢 pressure (2)
**Enter by sign:** Systems Semiotic Gateway · Alphabetum · Icon Registry · ← Systems Portal
<!-- SEMIOTIC-PROFILE:END -->
<!-- BEAUTY-PASS-MEDIA:START -->
## Wikipedia : Wikitube
**Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_computation) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Evolutionary_computation)
## Previous hub tags
Tree parents: [[Complex_system]] · [[Control_theory]] · [[Cybernetics]] · [[Emergence]] · [[Feedback]] · [[Self-organization]] · [[Systems_science]] · [[Systems_theory]].
Legacy hubs: none.
---
*Sources: 2 legacy notes. Minted wave 1, 2026-07-30 (v1.6 order).*