Author: Bob Durrett
Date: 15:12:23 11/18/02
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On November 18, 2002 at 17:05:07, Scott Gasch wrote: >> >>Well, I am retired but I still don't have 30+ hours a week to spend if it takes >>several years. Correct me if I'm wrong, but at my age maybe starting such a >>time consuming and long term project would be unwise, to say the least. >> >>Unless I get feedback here correcting my misconceptions in this matter, maybe >>I'll stick to simpler projects like writing a program to so some simpler task. >>The idea that it takes so long makes me tired already. : ( >> >>Bob D. > >Bob, > >I don't know your background, obviously, but want to share some thoughts about >chess programming. In my opinion, an intelligent individual with some >experience programming computers can have a working, moderate strength chess >engine up and running in a couple of months. If you willing to spend multiple >hours a day working or have extensive experience programming then make that a >couple of weeks. Wow! Sounds great. : ) > >If you don't have any experience programming then there are two hurdles -- to >learn to program and to develop a chess engine. No reason why you can't tackle >both at once -- a chess engine is a good first program, IMHO. Maybe start with >something that draws the board and can move a piece then come up with a move >generator and roll together a "I pick a random legal move and play it" engine. >Then add search and eval. That's all there is to it. This route will take a >while, require some good books, maybe a good teacher, and some work on your >part. Did you say "work"? > >I'd highly recommend Gerbil and TSCP as good (small) teaching programs. Read >their source code and post a message about the parts that confuse you -- someone >on here will explain I'm sure. I will learn C as soon as I finish "How to Play from a Fake Book." You see, chess is not my only interest. I enjoy music composition too. I also have to give my wife a few minutes of my time every day or two, or she gets antsy and goes shopping! > >One other thing... chess programming is rewarding but can also be frustraiting. >There's something to be said about doing it right and making sure it works the >first time you add something. I have written many Fortran programs but NONE of them ever worked right the first time, as best as I can remember. : ( >Code hacked up in a hurry or carelessly will bite >you in the ass every time. Ouch! : ) >Successful programmers, I think, are very clever Oops! That lets me out. : ) >and >very careful... I also think clever, careful people tend to pick up programming >more quickly. > >Scott Thanks, Scott, for the encouraging words. Somehow, however, I think it may take ME more than a few weeks. : ) But I will do it, simply because someone said here that chess programming is rewarding. Who cares if the end of the tunnel never comes? If you like to crawl in tunnels, then a tunnel that loops around on itself would be like Heaven! Bob D.
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