Author: Scott Gasch
Date: 14:05:07 11/18/02
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> >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. 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. 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. 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. Code hacked up in a hurry or carelessly will bite you in the ass every time. Successful programmers, I think, are very clever and very careful... I also think clever, careful people tend to pick up programming more quickly. Scott
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