Curb Your Self-Modifying Code
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Self-modifying code has many intriguing applications in a broad range of fields including software security, artificial general intelligence, and open-ended evolution. Having control over self-modifying code, however, is still an open challenge since it is a balancing act between providing as much freedom as possible to not limit possible solutions and restriction to avoid security issues and invalid code or solutions. In the present study, I provide a prototype implementation of how one might curb self-modifying code by introducing a control mechanisms for code modifications within specific regions and for specific transitions between code and data. I show that this is possible to achieve with the so-called allagmatic method - an approach to formalise, model, implement, and interpret complex systems inspired by Gilbert Simondon's philosophy of individuation and Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy of organism. Thereby, the allagmatic method serves as guidance for self-modification based on concepts defined in a metaphysical framework.
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