C# project explain all steps of genetic algorithm on a simple application for 2D bin packing problem

you should install:

• visual studio with .net 3.5
• DataVisualization (Microsoft Chart Controls for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5) here

Each order of bins/numbers in each chromosome represent one solution/packing for those 2d-bins each number in a chromosome represent 2D-Bin/Rectangle. the optimal solution/chromosome will have the correct order where the cost of fitness function will be minimal ('0' for no wasted space)

when you run the project -> File -> choose xml file -> choose one of the examples that you want to pack (you can even draw your own ones - just keep same structure for the xml file)

you can watch the draw of the best solution/order/chromosome in each population from the GridView by clicking over the order you want:

this will show if running only mutation will find the best chromosome faster than running only crossover and vice versa. this is only a comparison between the implemented mutation & crossover for this problem.

this will show you that ordering the 2d-bins even simply is much better than keeping them totally random in the initial/first Generation. ordering here means create a chromosome that will have tall bins first, and another chromosome will have small bins first ...

the reason of why .net 3.5 is because this is an old project that I wrote in 2012. I am sharing it now it might help someone to understand the different steps of genetic algorithm on this specific application.