Author: Joachim Rang
Date: 03:48:57 08/24/05
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On August 24, 2005 at 04:10:36, Fabien Letouzey wrote: >On August 23, 2005 at 15:23:49, Ulf Flörsheimer wrote: > >>Does anybody know if, when and how the WCCC version of Fruit will be >>distributed? >> >>Ulf > >I don't know myself. > >Professionals who came to WCCC said that Fruit is not a threat for their >sellings. Others are welcomed to let me know of their opinion by email >(fabien_letouzey@hotmail.com). However some experts expect more and more Fruit >clones in future tournaments (including on-the-board ones), especially after the >performance in WCCC. > >There is also the insufficiency (IMO) of the GPL in the chess case that I have >to ponder on (pun intended). > >For these reasons, I have decided so far NOT to release my source code anymore. >Continuing to do so could harm the community beyond repair, and at the same time >I believe that public Fruit 2.1 is strong enough to participate in a paradigm >revolution (skeptical programs or whatever). > >Thanks for listening, > >Fabien. Hi Fabien, I regret your decision. I think Fruit has revived the computer chess community and shown new pathes to further strength increase. For some years it was common sense that improvements in the Top 5 are small and rather hard to achieve and that you need lots of special "secret" tricks and knowledge in order to squeeze another 10 Elopoints out of your program. Fruit has demolished this myth and even more proven and shown this for everybody. This can only benefit computer chess in the long run even if it will cause some fear in the short run. There are perhaps 100 people in the world who will buy one new commercial release less when Fruit is stronger. So far we had exactly one "clone" for a week which was discovered very quick and has contributed to Fruits development in the future. More engines based on Fruit are to be expected and welcome - they only can revive computer chess even more. I don't think somebody will be able to clone fruit and get away undetected. I also fail to see the insuffcience of the GPL. Toga was released as promised and I can't imagein any issues with Betaversions which are only available for Betatesters through email. The only thing I would like to avoid is that some modification of Fruit becomes significantly stronger and is released not as open source. As long as somebody modifies Fruit and privately enjoys the fun I see no problem. regards Joachim P.S.: If you had personal reasons not to release Fruit as open source, such as going commercial or enjoying to be the only one who knows the source code of the best engine in the world I would find your decision less problematic. But I simply disagree that releasing the source code of further Fruitversion would be harmful to computer chess.
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