It is entirely possible to develop and 'grow' algorithms through a process which models evolution through natural selection. This has been demonstrated albeit at a simple level here in the monastery. A search should turn up the relevant threads. I know of no actual production code which has been developed using this method, so calling it a development methodology is a tad premature.
I totally neglected, though intended, to bring up evolutionary programming in the sense of genetic algorithms and the like. These do try to mimic important aspects of biological evolution and are, IMHO, quite properly associated with biological evolutionary concepts. Note, read some papers in genetic algorithms and methodology and the researchers nearly always discuss the particular mechanisms they are trying to model, and how their models differ from models in evolutionary biology.

But no one in those fields is even suggesting that genetic algorithms could be usefully applied in the design and implementation of even a simple text editor. At least not at the present state of the field.

I was only referring to the use of evolutionary principles in the larger software design and development methodologies. That is an important clarification, thanks!

In reply to Re: Re: (OT) Evolutionary Design?? by Anonymous Monk
in thread (OT) Evolutionary Design?? by Anonymous Monk

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