Beyond the Complexity Ceiling: Evolution, Emergence and Regeneration

We argue that there is an upper limit on the complexity of software that can be constructed using current methods. Furthermore, this limit is orders of magnitude smaller than the complexity of living systems. We argue that many of the advantages of autonomic computing will not be possible unless fundamental aspects of living systems are incorporated into a new paradigm of software construction. Truly self-healing and maintaining software will require methods of construction that mimic the biological development of multi-cellular organisms. We demonstrate a prototype system which is capable of autonomous repair and regeneration without using engineered methods. A method for evolving programs that construct multicellular structures (organisms) is described.