  Stochastic local search algorithms are frequently used to numerically solve
hard combinatorial optimization or decision problems. We give numerical and
approximate analytical descriptions of the dynamics of such algorithms applied
to random satisfiability problems. We find two different dynamical regimes,
depending on the number of constraints per variable: For low constraintness,
the problems are solved efficiently, i.e. in linear time. For higher
constraintness, the solution times become exponential. We observe that the
dynamical behavior is characterized by a fast equilibration and fluctuations
around this equilibrium. If the algorithm runs long enough, an exponentially
rare fluctuation towards a solution appears.
