Update Information: January 5, 2012 (Updates)
Engine Updates
Cheese 1.3b (WB/UCI)
Win32/64
- this is a test version
http://cheesechess.free.fr/en/download.html
SharpChess2 2.6.5 (WB)
SharpChess2 2.6.6 (WB)
C# source; own GUI; Win32/64; requires .NET Framework version 4.0 (or later)
- losing captures, found by SEE, are no longer searched in quiescence. v2.6.5 beats v2.6.4 by 33 games to 17
- improved search node-count by clearing Killer Moves and History Heuristic at the start of each iteration
- stopped computer playing a move after loading save game, when it was the computer's turn
- Max-Extensions shown in status bar when computer is thinking
- corrections to Move Analysis display
- fixed a bug where SharpChess would error displaying the Principal Variation in the status bar, when using WinBoard
- bugfix: fixed bug with Principal variation being erroneously cleared
- bugfix: fixed PV being replaced in AlphaBeta everytime hash table entry was found
ftp://sharpchess.com/SharpChessSetup_v2_6_5.msi (direct link to v2.6.5)
ftp://sharpchess.com/SharpChessSetup_v2_6_6.msi (direct link to v2.6.6)
http://sharpchess.com/
Chess News
Nothing new today
Down/Problem Chess Websites
Asterisk homepage down for 63 days
ChessAlex homepage is down for 16 days
Dann Corbit homepage down for 192 days
GarboChess homepage down for 4 days (but project page is fine)
Jonny homepage down for 9 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Wiki Changes
Chess Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- Gromit: changed an alternative download link (Wayback Machine)
- Brama: added a link (Wayback Machine)
- Genesis: added a link (Wayback Machine)
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_engine_list
Engine GUI List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- Gromit: comment revised
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:engine_gui_list
GUI Protocol List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- Chess Assistant: revised comment
- ChessBase: revised comment, added a link
- ChessGenius Classic: revised comment
- Shredder: revised comment
- WinBoard "Tim MannĀ“s Chess Pages": revised comment, added a link
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:gui_protocol_support_list
ICGA Tournament Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- revised opening paragraph and added some links there
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:icga_tournament_list
Native Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- Doctor: revised comment
- Nimzo: revised comment
- Schach dem Schweinehund: added to list
- The Crazy Bishop: added to list
- Ikarus: revised comment
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:native_engine_list
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
Adblock Plus 2.0.3 for Firefox
free, open source browser plugin that blocks most web advertisements
http://adblockplus.org/en/
KeePass Password Safe Professional Edition 2.18
open source password manager; manage your passwords securely
Professional Edition requires .NET framework
Classic Edition has fewer features but is adequate; does not require .NET framework
http://keepass.info/
http://keepass.info/compare.html (compare Classic vs Professional)
LibreOffice 3.4.5 RC 2
cross platform open source fork of OpenOffice project; word processing, chart, spreadsheet, database, etc.
- this is a *release candidate*
http://www.documentfoundation.org/ (homepage)
http://download.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/testing/ (download)
Maxthon 3.3.3.1000
free IE-based web browser with many extra features and plugins
http://www.maxthon.com/
NetBeans IDE 7.1
open source cross-platform IDE primarily for Java-based programming languages;
(includes Java, Groovy, Clojure, Scala, C/C++, PHP, JavaFX, JavaScript, etc.)
supports normal syntax highlighting, code completion, namespace completion, etc.
all languages have debuggers, profilers and unit testing plus support for collaborative programming
http://netbeans.org/ (homepage)
http://netbeans.org/community/releases/71/ (new features info)
PHP 5.4.0 RC 5
PHP is a very popular open source scripting language mostly used for web applications
- this is a *release candidate*
http://php.net/ (homepage)
Soluto 1.3.268.0 Beta
free; uses community-developed power-user solutions to fix your PC problems
- this is a *beta* release
http://www.soluto.com/
Wise Registry Cleaner 6.21
free registry cleaner; cleans incorrect or obsolete registry information
http://www.wisecleaner.com/download.html
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.
ron _at_ computer-chess _dot_ org