Encog.Util.ParamsHolder.GetString C# (CSharp) Method

        public String GetString(String name, bool required, String defaultValue)
        {
            if (_paras.ContainsKey(name) )
            {
                return _paras[name];                
            }
            if (required)
            {
                throw new EncogError("Missing property: " + name);
            }
            return defaultValue;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Create a NEAT population.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="architecture">The architecture string to use.</param>
        /// <param name="input">The input count.</param>
        /// <param name="output">The output count.</param>
        /// <returns>The population.</returns>
        public IMLMethod Create(String architecture, int input,
                int output)
        {
            if (input <= 0)
            {
                throw new EncogError("Must have at least one input for NEAT.");
            }

            if (output <= 0)
            {
                throw new EncogError("Must have at least one output for NEAT.");
            }

            IDictionary<String, String> args = ArchitectureParse.ParseParams(architecture);
            ParamsHolder holder = new ParamsHolder(args);

            int populationSize = holder.GetInt(
                    MLMethodFactory.PropertyPopulationSize, false, 1000);

            int cycles = holder.GetInt(
                    MLMethodFactory.PropertyCycles, false, NEATPopulation.DefaultCycles);

            IActivationFunction af = this.factory.Create(
                    holder.GetString(MLMethodFactory.PropertyAF, false, MLActivationFactory.AF_SSIGMOID));

            NEATPopulation pop = new NEATPopulation(input, output, populationSize);
            pop.Reset();
            pop.ActivationCycles = cycles;
            pop.NEATActivationFunction = af;

            return pop;
        }