Overview

We’ve briefly discussed the idea of evolving computer programs previously and we’ll now be diving deeper into how such “digital evolution” can be implemented with a specific system: Avida. The Avida Digital Evolution Platform is one of the most heavily used artificial life software systems.

Basic Learning Objectives

Before class, you should be able to:

  • List the standard virtual hardware of an “Avidian”
  • Explain what the default Avida “task” environment is
  • Explain how “nop” instructions can modify other instructions

Advanced Learning Objectives

After class, you should be able to:

  • Explain how a digital evolution experiment can be visually represented

Resources

You should read the following from the paper Avida: a software platform for research in computational evolutionary biology:

  • 1:Introduction
  • 2:Avida Organisms-Virtual Hardware (you don’t need to read Template Matching and Heads)
  • 2.2.2 Nops as Modifiers
  • 3.3 Environment and Resources

Checks

Submit answers to the following on Moodle:

  • What is the standard virtual hardware of an Avida organism?
  • What is the default “task” environment called?
  • How are “nop” instructions used to modify other instructions?