Bookkeeping time of engine

[PK-4]

Hi all,
I estimate the bookkeeping time of my engine, i.e., time spent in tasks other than eval, in the following way:

Let f1 be the nps in middlegame with normal eval and f2 the nps in middle game with a very simple eval returning just the material difference. Then f1/f2 is the fraction of time spent in bookkeeping and may be taken as a measure of inefficiency. Will some knowledgable member comment on the usefulness of this measure? Has anyone found this for crafty?

P.K.Mukhopadhyay

[Bill Rogers]

A question for you.
1. Do you scan the entire board when counting all the pieces to calculate the material difference or
2. Do you take the total values of both black and white at the begining of the game and then only update the difference when a capture is made?

If you do the latter then the least amount of time is spent calculating the material difference as it is done on the fly.
Bill

[PK-4]

A question for you.
1. Do you scan the entire board when counting all the pieces to calculate the material difference or
2. Do you take the total values of both black and white at the begining of the game and then only update the difference when a capture is made?

If you do the latter then the least amount of time is spent calculating the material difference as it is done on the fly.
Bill

The second option is used, so simple eval takes practically no time.

P.K.Mukhopadhyay