Update Information: September 19, 2012 (Updates)
Engine Updates
Arasan 15.0 (WB/UCI)
C++ source; own GUI, mp; Win32/64, Linux, Mac; can use Gaviota ebtbs
- increase static null pruning threshold at low depths
- scoring fixes/improvements: king cover, potential passed pawns, bad bishop
- fix code that tracks node count per ply 0 move, for move ordering
- changes to LMR reduction amounts and ply 0 reduction threshold
- avoid null move if hash table info indicates it would fail to generate cutoff
- losing checks are no longer extended; threat extension is now done differently, similar to Stockfish
- re-work of SMP code to increase thread usage by supporting the "helpful master" algorithm
- fix a bug in communicating with the Fritz interface, specifically the "process testsuite" command
- fix UCI and console score output so upperbound & lowerbound status displayed when appropriate
- fix setting Strength option from native GUI
- some GNU Makefile fixes for MingW support; clang is also supported now
http://www.arasanchess.org/
Crafty 23.5 (WB)
C++ source; mp; limit strength; Win32/64
http://www.kikrtech.com/
Rodin 5.0 (WB)
Win32
- more chess knowledge added to eval function
- better time management
- improves in some search parts
- speed optimizations
http://sites.google.com/site/clonfsp/rodin-chess-engine
Chess News
Chess Engines for Android
- added Myrddin 0.85j
- added Tucano 1.04
http://www.aartbik.com/MISC/eng.html
Gnuchess5 5.07.173b (WB/UCI)
- engine unchanged, book updated
- 3rd day in a row that the book has been updated
http://hardy.uhasselt.be/Toga/gnuchess-release/
Polyglot 1.4.69b
Michel Van den Bergh's Linux and Windows builds based on Fonzy Bluemers modification
of Fabien Letouzey's Polyglot with original work and bugfixes
- make program aware of newly proposed Polyglot book headers
http://hardy.uhasselt.be/Toga/polyglot-release/ (rpm, tar.gz, & exe)
Down/Problem Chess Websites
ChestUCI homepage down for 4 days (a 110mb.com site)
Dann Corbit homepage down for 451 days
FirstChess homepage down for 9 days (not found)
Mizar homepage down for 31 days ("domain has expired")
Muriel homepage down today (no response in 60 seconds)
PolarChess homepage down for 16 days
Toledo Nanochess homepage down for 4 days (a 110mb.com site)
Tony Mokonen's files homepage down today (403: Forbidden)
Tornado homepage down for 30 days (programmer has purposely removed his page)
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
Ext JS 4.1.1a
free version of the open source cross-browser JavaScript library for building rich internet applications
http://www.sencha.com/ (homepage)
http://www.sencha.com/products/extjs/ (info)
http://www.sencha.com/products/extjs/download/ (download)
HDClone 4.2 Free
Copy/Backup/Migrate/Rescue from one hard drive to another
- this is trade-up-ware, be sure to download the free version
http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html
http://www.miray.de/download/sat.hdclone.html (download)
Snowlinux 3 "E17"
Debian-based Linux distro; this release is Enlightenment desktop, others: GNOME, KDE, LXDE and Xfce;
#15 in popularity
http://www.snowlinux.de/
Wise Registry Cleaner 7.51
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