Author: Christophe Theron
Date: 12:54:40 11/16/01
Go up one level in this thread
On November 16, 2001 at 02:52:55, José Carlos wrote:
>On November 15, 2001 at 16:24:10, Christophe Theron wrote:
>
>>On November 15, 2001 at 13:06:42, José Carlos wrote:
>>
>>>On November 15, 2001 at 12:20:37, Christophe Theron wrote:
>>>
>>>>On November 15, 2001 at 12:06:24, Slater Wold wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I heard it through the grapevine that Microsoft is working on a chess program.
>>>>>
>>>>>Nothing like Deep Blue, but something to rival Chessmaster, and I am guessing,
>>>>>Chessbase.
>>>>>
>>>>>With the money, resources, and brains at Microsoft, I think they have the
>>>>>ability to make one of the best chess programs on the market. They could afford
>>>>>to get the best GM's and use some of the best programmers in the world.
>>>>>
>>>>>I was curious on what the thoughts of this forum is, on such an idea. I know
>>>>>most people here don't like Microsoft, but please keep in mind I am asking for
>>>>>your input on a Microsoft chess program, not their business ethics.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I guess that if Microsoft wanted to publish a chess program they would not
>>>>gather together GMs and programmers.
>>>>
>>>>They would just buy an existing chess program.
>>>>
>>>>Time has shown that it takes a lot of time (years) to build a strong chess
>>>>program, and that you do not need to involve grandmasters in the process.
>>>>
>>>>What you need the most is TIME.
>>>>
>>>>So I think that's the way they would do it: by buying an existing one. That's
>>>>what they do usually.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Christophe
>>>
>>> What about hiring an experienced programmer to write a *new* chess program.
>>>For example, suppose Microsoft comes to you and offer a lot of money for you
>>>forget about Ed, ChessBase and the Tigers and start a new program for Microsoft.
>>>With your knowledge and experience how long would it take you to write a new top
>>>chess program which shouldn't be a clone of the Tigers?
>>>
>>> José C.
>>
>>
>>
>>Forget about it. That's not the way they do it.
>>
>>They BUY something that works in order to be on the market as quickly as
>>possible.
>>
>>I can't see them putting their energy in developping a chess program. They have
>>a huge task ahead with their .NET stuff. That represents much more money to
>>make. Chess? That's peanuts.
>>
>>
>>
>> Christophe
>
> I see, but my question was more "how much time takes an experienced programmer
>to write a completely new top program?". You said that it takes years but, is
>this also true for a programmer with a lot of experience years?
>
> José C.
No. I have done it before and it just takes a few months.
But basically what counts is not the piece of code, it's the years of experience
you have on this matter.
Christophe
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