Update Information: January 30, 2011 (Updates)
Engine Updates
CuckooChess 1.08 (UCI)
Java source; own GUI; uses Cuckoo hashing
http://web.comhem.se/petero2home/javachess/index.html
Redqueen 0.9 (UCI)
C++ source; Win32, Linux64; uses pthreads library
"I think v0.9 is about 100 Elo stronger than v0.8. "
- clean up code
- fixed bugs
- implemented Non-capturing checks at quiescence search
- improved evaluation of passed pawns, rooks and knights
- added candidate passer knowledge
- bonus to rooks in open/half open files
- added knight outposts
- PST's values refined
- improved LMR code/parameters
- the PV is now retrieved from the transposition table (I was using before Bruce Moreland's method)
- implemented singular extensions (+20 Elo worth perhaps)
- storing static evaluation information in hash table
- improved move ordering
http://sourceforge.net/projects/redqueenchess/files/
ROCE 0.0395 (UCI)
Win64-only
- movegen bugfix for illegal moves in perft count
- this is *not* an official release
http://www.rocechess.ch/roce395.zip (direct link)
http://www.rocechess.ch (homepage)
Chess News
ChessGUI 0.210 (WB/UCI)
chess GUI / tournament manager by Matthias Gemuh; there is a separate download for a portable version
- several enhancemets
- "do not use ChessGUI 0.210 to finish an already running tournament"
http://biglion.110mb.com/
http://w2410tmq9.homepage.t-online.de/
Down/Problem Chess Websites
Aldebaran homepage down for 42 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Fianchetto homepage down for 19 days (configuration error)
Frenzee homepage down for 164 days (webpage taken down until new engine release)
Genesis homepage down for 17 days
Sorgenkind homepage down for 30 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Usurper homepage down for 28 days
Wiki Changes
Nothing new today
Bonus Notifications (recent releases of free stuff)
Warnings:
- do not install unwanted toolbars, etc.
- alpha releases have new features; crashes and bugs are to be expected
- beta releases have new features; they may contain bugs or crash
- release candidate software may contain minor bugs; crashes are rare
Puppy Linux 'Cielo Wary 5'
Open source, boots from a CD (your Windows installation is unchanged) w/ simple instruction manual
old, slow computers run very well using Puppy's all-in-memory Linux kernel
Cielo Wary comes with OpenOffice, Skype, VLC, Opera & TrueCrypt
There are many versions of Puppy available, each with a specific purpose
You will need to know how to burn a disk from an ISO image
Puppy is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use Linux distribution for Windows users. Recommended.
You don't necessarily use the latest version, you use the version with the software you want
http://puppylinuxnews.org/ (news & download)
http://crypt.altervista.org/ (Cielo Wary homepage & download)
http://crypt.altervista.org/puppy_cielo_50_screenshot.png (screenshot)
http://puppylinux.org/ (PuppyLinux homepage)
Vala/Genie software for Windows
Windows builds of software for the Vala/Genie language
- libgee 0.6.1; this is the language containers/iterators library
http://live.gnome.org/Vala (Vala language page)
http://live.gnome.org/Genie (Genie language page)
http://code.google.com/p/vala-win32/downloads/list (download)
NOTE: Yesterday's announcement of Data Crow 3.9.4 was premature. Sourceforge is not allowing uploads of new programs until it completes its anti-hacking measures. Once Sourceforge finishes this process I expect a bunch of new updates!
Meaning of Colors
Red = New or Warning
Green = Updated
Gray = Info Only
Engine List: http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_engine_list
Chess News: http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_news_list
NOTE: If you want me to track a website for you, please email me and I will add it.