Author: jefkaan
Date: 07:57:38 11/17/02
Go up one level in this thread
> (C in 24 hours) >Not likely. I tried those books as well, and granted they do give a basic >understanding of the C language. I went and took some cheap evening courses to understand better, and for the most part I am still confused. Time heals all >wounds.. and C is going to bust you up :) > >Just give it time, and don't rush things. in line with my own experience; i used to be *good* (and fast) in programming 20 years ago; now i'm only parttime busy with C, bought 3 books (didn't read them from page 1 to end though) and started with modifying and extending MSCP, using a | freeware compiler from DevC++ (very easy to use for C); now for every change i made, it introduced about 3 bugs, and indeed most time was used for debugging (which i just did by changing, testing, etc.); headaches guaranteed. So Bob Durret, you could start by just compiling MSCP2 (Just look it up in Google), its only one c file, set it (in the source code) eg. a 7 ply and run in Winboard. Then | forget it and have a look at TSCP, i would suggest. Somewhere around there's also a Pascal version ( i compiled it with Delphi7) but it has a bug (illegal move input). Forget about Crafty, much too complicated for a beginner. Besides TSCP there are some other rather simple C sources, like GNUchess (old), Faile, and Resp (a new one). Gerbil and Beowulf are excellent but rather complicated. Best line to proceed is probably re-writing TSCP from scratch, adding things from theory (buy 3 books about computer chess i would suggest, i have only 2); and plan to use a lot of time; make eg. a 5 yr plan.. Richard Pijl (Baron) started in this way but is a smart and experienced programmer; yet the result of drawing against Tiger in his 2nd tournament shows this is a good way to start. good luck, jefk PS and now you've read the above, you might be interested in something else than chess, eg. Go-Moku, ie 5 in a row (Free Pascal source available) or Othello (free C source available). Chess (and maybe also Go) seems to get the attention of some of the best programmers so you will probably never feel succesful in this area (for example, i know i won't, but its not my aim as i'm more interested in opening theory, eg. | gambits to improve my own OTB chess as a hobby; its always funny for example to mate a computer program on ICC within 20 moves orso, you know :)
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.