Cost-aware quantum-inspired genetic algorithm for workflow scheduling in hybrid clouds

Cloud computing delivers a desirable environment for users to run their different kinds of applications in a cloud. Numerous of these applications (tasks), such as bioinformatics, astronomy, biodiversity, and image analysis, are deadline-sensitive. Such tasks must be properly allocated to virtual machines (VMs) to avoid deadline violations, and they should reduce their execution time and cost. Due to the contradictory environment, minimizing the application task's completion time and execution cost is extremely difficult. Thus, we propose a Cost-aware Quantum-inspired Genetic Algorithm (CQGA) to minimize the execution time and cost by meeting the deadline constraints. CQGA is motivated by quantum computing and genetic algorithm. It combines quantum operators (measure, interference, and rotation) with genetic operators (selection, crossover, and mutation). Quantum operators are used for better population diversity, quick convergence, time-saving, and robustness. Genetic operators help to produce new individuals, have good fitness values for individuals, and play a significant role in preserving the evolution quality of the population. In addition, CQGA used a quantum bit as a probabilistic representation because it has higher population diversity attributes than other representations. The simulation outcome exhibits that the proposed algorithm can obtain outstanding convergence performance and reduced maximum cost than benchmark algorithms.