How should I Test a Genetic Algorithm

Question

I have made a quite few genetic algorithms; they work (they find a reasonable solution quickly). But I have now discovered TDD. Is there a way to write a genetic algorithm (whic

Answer 1

Well the most testable part is the fitness function - where all your logic will be. this can be in some cases quite complex (you might be running all sorts of simulations based on input parameters) so you wanna be sure all that stuff works with a whole lot of unit tests, and this work can follow whatever methodology.

With regards to testing the GA parameters (mutation rate, cross-over strategy, whatever) if you're implementing that stuff yourself you can certainly test it (you can again have unit tests around mutation logic etc.) but you won't be able to test the 'fine-tuning' of the GA.

In other words, you won't be able to test if GA actually performs other than by the goodness of the solutions found.