Abstract: A parallel, distributed processing system is provided for solving NP-hard problems, and the like, efficiently, quickly and accurately. The system employs parallel processors which are iteratively and intelligently allocated for a series of generations of child solutions from selected, previous generation or parent solutions. The system employs multiple levels of competition for generating a next level of possible solutions and for reallocating processor resources to the most promising regions for finding a best solution to the task. This includes both inter-family competition, as well as intra-family competition. System temperature data are set and gradually decreased with each succeeding generation. A degree of randomness is entered into the solution generation. The hierarchical and iterative process, incorporating randomness and a decreasing temperature provides for the guided evolutionary simulated annealing solution generation.