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Evolution

Evolution is the cumulative change in the characteristics, structure, or behavior of a population or system across successive generations or states.

How 3 Manning books explain it

Evolutionary Deep Learning: Genetic algorithms and neural networks

Biological evolution is the change in heritable characteristics of populations across generations through processes such as variation and selection.

How it is used
Uses evolutionary mechanisms to optimize processes, parameters, structures, and machine-learning systems through population-based search.
How deep it goes
Implements simplified life simulations with fitness, selection, inheritance, mutation, plotting, and parameter experiments rather than biological genetic detail.
Examples
Demonstrates cell populations, inherited traits, fitness equations, mutation rules, live plots, and notebook exercises that vary evolutionary operators.
What you can do after
Build it from scratch as a Python life simulation, then modify fitness functions, inheritance, selection, mutation, and monitoring parameters.

Read how Evolutionary Deep Learning: Genetic algorithms and neural networks explains evolution →

Architecture Modernization: Socio-technical alignment of software, strategy, and structure

Evolution is the progression of a component from novel and uncertain origins toward increasingly industrialized, stable, and efficient forms.

How it is used
Guides Wardley Mapping toward future scenarios by examining how components change rather than treating the current landscape as fixed.
How deep it goes
Explains an evolution spectrum and a collaborative assessment process, while leaving placement partly subjective and requiring further research.
Examples
Uses smartphone cameras, evolution criteria, breakout discussions, and a visual mapping template as concrete learning artifacts.
What you can do after
Evaluate component positions, challenge maps through discussion, and anticipate changes driven by demand, competition, and external events.

Read how Architecture Modernization: Socio-technical alignment of software, strategy, and structure explains evolution →

Grokking AI Algorithms, Second Edition

Evolution is the cumulative change in inherited characteristics of populations across generations through variation and differential survival or reproduction.

How it is used
Explains how inherited variation and differential survival produce adaptation across generations.
How deep it goes
Explains variation, mutation, branching populations, and selection through intuition and examples, stopping short of detailed biology.
Examples
Uses branching human evolution, peppered moth coloration, and reproduction with mutation to illustrate evolutionary change.
What you can do after
Evaluate/understand how populations change through inherited variation and environmental selection.

Read how Grokking AI Algorithms, Second Edition explains evolution →

Related concepts

These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.