Introduction to Evolutionary Algorithms

  TCreator = class(TComponent)
    // Function is used to create individuals to form the initial population
    function CreateIndividual : TIndividual; virtual; abstract;
  end;

interface

type
  TTSPCreator = class(TCreator)
  private
    // The display component we are associated with
    FDisplay: TTSPDisplay;
  public
    // Function to create a random individual
    function CreateIndividual : TIndividual; override;
  published
    // Property to allow display to be associated at design time
    property Display : TTSPDisplay read FDisplay write FDisplay;
  end;


implementation

function TTSPCreator.CreateIndividual: TIndividual;
var
  New              : TTSPIndividual;
  i, j, Top, Temp  : Integer;
begin
  // Get the number of cities
  Top := FDisplay.CityCount;

  // Create the new individual
  New := TTSPIndividual.Create(Top);

  // Initialise it with a sequential route
  for i := 0 to Top - 1 do
    New.Route[i] := i;

  // Shuffle the route
  for i := Top - 1 downto 1 do
  begin
    j := Random(i);
    Temp := New.Route[j];
    New.Route[j] := New.Route[i];
    New.Route[i] := Temp;
  end;

  // Return the completed (random) individual
  Result := New;
end;