Mutations and Flaws

apply_mutations (type: boolean, range: {yes,no})

Specifies whether mutations are to be operative during the run. If set to no, then the associated parameters mutation_period and mutation_application_period have no effect.

mutation_period (type: non-negative integer, range: any)

Specifies the expected number of bits within the cells of all the organisms in the population that will be unaffected by mutations between successive bits which are affected, at each application of the mutation procedure.

mutation_application_period (type: non-negative integer, range: any)

Specifies the period (expressed as a number of time slice sweeps) between successive applications of the mutation procedure.

apply_flaws (type: boolean, range: {yes,no})

Specifies whether the flawed execution of instructions is to be operative during the run. If set to no, then the associated parameters default_flaw_period and flaw_period_max_change_per_thou have no effect.

default_flaw_period (type: non-negative integer, range: any)

Specifies the default flaw period initially associated with inoculated ancestor programs. This is the expected number of successful executions of instructions by the Cosmos operating system between successive flawed executions. This default can be overridden if a different number is specified in the ancestor.ini file for a user-defined ancestor.

flaw_period_max_change_per_thou (type: non-negative integer, range: any)

Specifies the degree to which a cell's flaw period may be changed by a single mutation. Expressed in parts per thousand. The flaw rate may be mutated to any number in the range of its current value plus or minus the specified fraction of that value.