ILP turns 20

Abstract

Inductive Logic Programming (ILP) is an area of Machine Learning which has now reached its twentieth year. Using the analogy of a human biography this paper re- calls the development of the subject from its infancy through childhood and teenage years. We show how in each phase ILP has been characterised by an attempt to extend theory and implementations in tandem with the development of novel and challenging real-world appli- cations. Lastly, by projection we suggest directions for research which will help the subject coming of age.