Author: Bob Durrett
Date: 08:51:15 02/13/04
Go up one level in this thread
On February 13, 2004 at 11:27:13, Tord Romstad wrote: >On February 13, 2004 at 04:35:13, Uri Blass wrote: > >>On February 13, 2004 at 02:49:10, Tord Romstad wrote: >> >>>On February 12, 2004 at 14:37:29, William H Rogers wrote: >>> >>>>Think about it Bob. If someone came up with a new idea in chess and tested it in >>>>their own program, and because of that their program started beating all of >>>>their opponents, do you really think that they would give away their secrets? >>> >>>Yes, I actually think so. In the past, most of the top programmers have kept >>>their tricks secret in order to achieve a competitive advantage compared to >>>other professionals. I think this is about to change. Most of the new chess >>>programmers these days have "grown up" here on the CCC, where ideas, techniques >>>and algorithms are discussed every day, and lots of experts patiently answers >>>the questions of beginners. We also have access to lots of online tuturials >>>and papers, as well as tons of free source code. >>> >>>If I ever invent some new and revolutionary idea (which is unfortunately >>>very unlikely), I will of course share it with the community. Having >>>received so much help from others, I would feel ashamed to keep my >>>algorithms secret. I am fairly sure that most of the other members of the >>>"CCC generation" would say the same. >>> >> >>You can earn money from doing your prorgram commercial if you have something >>that is better than the top programs. >>I do not think that it is going to change in the near future. > >I think it will get harder and harder to sell chess programs in the future. >Even today, it is hard to justify buying the commercial chess programs. Do >you think the difference between (say) Aristarch and Shredder is really >significant to the average chess player? As the hardware improves, the >difference will grow even less significant. > >>Why do you think to share something important that you may find with other >>programmers when it means that you will not earn money from chess programming? > >There are many easier and more comfortable ways to earn money. Besides, >considering how I learned all this stuff, selling a chess program >without explaining its inner workings would be more like stealing money >than like earning money. I cannot sell something which is 95% the work >of others and 5% the work of myself, unless I contribute something back >to the community by explaining the last 5%. At least to me, having a good >conscience is much more important than some extra income. Perhaps I'm >naive, but I expect that most others who learn chess programming by hanging >around here would feel the same. > >Another important aspect is of course that of personal enjoyment. What >fun is there in inventing new ideas if you never discuss them with anyone? > >Tord Your arguments sound good but I doubt that any financially successful chess programmers will be persuaded to reveal their secrets. : ) Nice try, though. Bob D.
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