Plague: a "new" chess engine based on Smaug

[zamar]

Boys, boys

Reading (some of) this thread was in fact a lot of fun for me. You are like childs in playground arguing about toys

Did you read my post when I published Smaug 2.2.1?

* I'm only a novice chess programmer and have no intention to take honour away from original writer of Glaurung. Name "Smaug" was chosen to make engine origin clear.

* All patches applied to glaurung 2.2 can be found on Smaug's webpage. If those changes are found to be useful they can easily be merged in Glaurung (or in Stockfish)

I'm only a novice chess programmer and trying to learn this great art! I have so many real life activities that I have neither time nor motivation to start from scratch. I chose Glaurung, because, as many have already pointed out, codebase is extremely readable and simple. But you cannot learn to do programming by just reading the code, you have to mess with it. And when you have messed with the code you are uncertain (no matter how hard you tested) if your changes are really useful. You need independent people to test them. And the best way to get needed publicity is make a little release.

And you know what is really funny?

Before somebody started this troll-thread, there were some, but not many knowing about Smaug. However with this thread staying in top in talkchess forum for days (maybe weeks, who know how hard you will continue!!) there is more and more people wondering what is this plague/smaug stuff??

However if I had known how actively Marco is developing Stockfish, I had rather sent patches to him privately (and CC:ed tord) instead of releasing "a new engine" So it's unlikely there will ever be Smaug 2.2.2

I've spoken, so please continue

[Tord Romstad]

Second, computer chess community is a very narrow community, perhaps only around 1000+ fans around the world. So, is it wrong for a people who spend years to develop a chess engine to feel bitter by those derivatives who rob all already small attention they can get?

I agree to some extent, but I have a somewhat different perspective on it: I think the majority of computer chess enthusiasts are far too focused on strength. The weaker programs often have more character and personality, and are more fun to watch and play against. Moreover, that people are willing to test weaker engines is very important for the long-term progress of computer chess, because most programmers won't enjoy writing a chess program if nobody wants to use it before it is close to the top programs.

I wouldn't categorize Petir as one of the "weaker programs", by the way. It's one of the very best amateur programs. I hope you will keep working on it, and that there will some day be a version I can run on my Mac.

Tord

[Matthias Gemuh]

However if I had known how actively Marco is developing Stockfish, I had rather sent patches to him privately (and CC:ed tord) instead of releasing "a new engine" So it's unlikely there will ever be Smaug 2.2.2

I've spoken, so please continue

A german proverb says:
Whoever says "A", must also say "B".

So you shall release more versions, perhaps named differently.
Feel free to do so.

Matthias.

[Tord Romstad]

A german proverb says:
Whoever says "A", must also say "B".

So you shall release more versions, perhaps named differently.
Feel free to do so.

In Norway, we say:

Whoever says "BigLion 2.23x", must also say "BigLion 2.24".

There should be more BigLion versions in the future, too.

Tord

[Stan Arts]

I'm only a novice chess programmer and trying to learn this great art!

That is probably why you chose Glaurung as your tool to start with. Learning mini max and so on.

I chose Glaurung, because, as many have already pointed out, codebase is extremely readable and simple.

My bad. But in that case I know some programs which are far more readable and simple still!

I have so many real life activities that I have neither time nor motivation to start from scratch.

Tough luck. I have so many activities I have no time to build a house. Hope it won't rain.

You need independent people to test them. And the best way to get needed publicity is make a little release.

By your judgement, their testingtime is better spent on your work then the hundreds of original engines that wait months after a release before they see some public testing? Then your act is pure generosity indeed.

troll-thread
Did you read my post when I published Smaug 2.2.1?

Yes, trolling can be fun once in a while, but you know that.

So it's unlikely there will ever be Smaug 2.2.2

2.2.2 ? Do you have a changelog of your other 221 versions?

[Matthias Gemuh]

In Norway, we say:

Whoever says "BigLion 2.23x", must also say "BigLion 2.24".

There should be more BigLion versions in the future, too.

Tord

Hi Tord,

I am working on BigLion 2.23y
BigLion 2.24 ? Let's not skip BigLion 2.23z either !.

Now that your engine is at peak of standard chess, what is your next move ?
If you ever take up 10x8 chess, your fans would lose interest in standard chess and move on to 10x8.
In the whole history of chess, no single person has ever had a better chance of shaping the chess world.
If I were your age, and had your chess programming talent, I would first release a 10x8 chess engine, and then decide whether it was right to do so

Regards,
Matthias.

[Peter Aloysius]

However if I had known how actively Marco is developing Stockfish, I had rather sent patches to him privately (and CC:ed tord) instead of releasing "a new engine" So it's unlikely there will ever be Smaug 2.2.2

I've spoken, so please continue

A german proverb says:
Whoever says "A", must also say "B".

So you shall release more versions, perhaps named differently.
Feel free to do so.

Matthias.

True. A lot of name from Lord of the Ring is still not used yet. What about Bilbo, or Frodo, or Sauron? All of them should make engine origin clear. Personally I think Gollum is the best name.

[Christopher Conkie]

The tone in this thread has changed
People are now suddenly serious

Matthias.

Yeah, where's Chris? Nobody here can be as good as him in sarcasm and humour.

I'm busy reverse engineering Petir so I can compile a Mac (note...copyright Scotland Inc.) version for Tord.



We are going to put this to bed once and for all in a different thread called "Derivatives" in which we would like all authors to contribute their thoughts, ideas and thereby reach a compromise that can be adopted by all derivative makers, and tournament organisers.

Just need to finish this disassembly first of course...

Christopher

[Christopher Conkie]

The tone in this thread has changed
People are now suddenly serious

Matthias.

Yeah, where's Chris? Nobody here can be as good as him in sarcasm and humour.

I'm busy reverse engineering Petir so I can compile a Mac (note...copyright Scotland Inc.) version for Tord.



We are going to put this to bed once and for all in a different thread called "Derivatives" in which we would like all authors to contribute their thoughts, ideas and thereby reach a compromise that can be adopted by all derivative makers, and tournament organisers.

Just need to finish this disassembly first of course...

Christopher

BTW It's called MacPetir. Welcome to the Clan.



Christopher

[Peter Aloysius]

The tone in this thread has changed
People are now suddenly serious

Matthias.

Yeah, where's Chris? Nobody here can be as good as him in sarcasm and humour.

I'm busy reverse engineering Petir so I can compile a Mac (note...copyright Scotland Inc.) version for Tord.



We are going to put this to bed once and for all in a different thread called "Derivatives" in which we would like all authors to contribute their thoughts, ideas and thereby reach a compromise that can be adopted by all derivative makers, and tournament organisers.

Just need to finish this disassembly first of course...

Christopher

BTW It's called MacPetir. Welcome to the Clan.



Christopher

Great ! I'll be waiting for the result.

And because the word "C* you know what" already forbidden in this forum, nobody can prove that MacPetir is actually a Petir clone.