Re: Where's genetic programming at? (was Re: Jobs, Lots of stuff about Software world (was re: Homeless))

From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Thu Sep 14 2000 - 15:31:35 MDT


Emlyn O'Regan wrote:
>

>
> You can't say this to me... you thought I was a VB programmer (oh the
> shame)! And you were going to slap me, geez, I've got my eye on you. Never
> turn your back on a slapper.
>

The slap is only metaphorical and perhaps verbal if I see another fine
mind going to waste. We all need slaps like that occassionally.
Self-administered works too.

> Well, I'm not a VB programmer, but I'm still seriously underqualified to do
> more than rant vaguely about genetic programming. Eugene has a passing
> familiarity with this stuff; got a status report on state-of-the-art for us?
>

Me too. But I do have some ideas about what needs to be done to
organize/enable the component database that such a system would draw
elements from. Those ideas spin off quite a few tools and techniques
that are generally useful and could be financially rewarding along the
way. And I've stuck a toe or two into some intentional programming
stuff about how systems could be specified. Some hard problems involve
the proper classification of components and semantic descriptions of
their properties and contextual expectations.
 
> I'm a bit afraid that the business plan would look something like:
> 1 - Get lots o money
> 2 - Spend lots o money doing heaps of cool research into genetic
> programming, play around with oh so excellent equipment, discover some
> excellent stuff, have a bloody fantastic time
> 3 - Run out of money with no products/market to show for it,
> 4 - get a slapping (eek) from the VC(s)
> 5 - Reputation in ruins, become a tramp, scavenge in bins, waiting for
> the singularity
>

0 - promise we will live on bread and water while spending lots of money
to make our stock holders wealthy beyond their dreams of avarice...

Sounds like a great plan to me. At the least we get to have a good time
trying and maybe produce some seeds that the next effort can start
from. Many of the big-rep people in Silly-Con Valley have had at least
one venture blow up in their face. Failure is a learning experience as
long as it doesn't kill you.

- samantha



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