Genetic Algorithm for Solving Optimization Problems in C++

The genetic algorithm (GA) is a metaheuristic algorithm inspired by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and belongs to the class of evolutionary algorithms (EA). The algorithm was pioneered by John Holland (the 1960s and 1970s). Genetic algorithms have a number of advantages over conventional optimization techniques. GA can handle complex fitness (objective) functions that can be linear or nonlinear, continuous or discontinuous, or subject to random noise. Since the algorithm is parametrized, regarding the population size, chromosomes (here considered as the size of the subgroup) taken to elitism, crossover, and mutation require tuning.