Genetic Algorithms in Java Basics

Class Scheduling

Chapter 5

Introduction

In this chapter, we will create a genetic algorithm that schedules classes for a college timetable. We will examine a couple of different scenarios in which a class-scheduling algorithm may be used, and the constraints that are usually implemented when designing a timetable. Finally, we will build a simple class scheduler, which can be expanded to support more complex implementations.

In artificial intelligence, class scheduling is a variation of the constraint satisfaction problem. This category of problem relates to problems, which have a set of variables that need to be assigned in such a way that they avoid violating a defined set of constraints.

Constraints fall into two categories: hard constraints—constraints ...