Author: Walter Faxon
Date: 00:42:21 01/14/06
Go up one level in this thread
On January 14, 2006 at 01:21:08, Dann Corbit wrote: >On January 14, 2006 at 01:09:25, Stuart Cracraft wrote: > >>On January 14, 2006 at 00:51:30, Dann Corbit wrote: >> >>>On January 14, 2006 at 00:13:03, Robert Hyatt wrote: >>> >>>>One note... >>>> >>>>If you look around, 90% of the people that stop participating in actual computer >>>>chess discussions are those that chose to go "commercial". Or those that chose >>>>to do something after lurking here for quite a while, then go off and become >>>>ultra-secretive. The other 10% either would like to go commercial, but don't, >>>>or they just "burn out." Burn-out is fairly common. I can only think of one >>>>person that is still active that was around when I started competing in CC >>>>events. Me. Why I didn't "burn out" I have no idea. And I haven't done so to >>>>date either... >>>> >>>>The ones of us still releasing source code, or even if we are not, we still >>>>choose to "hold nothing back" _still_ continue to discuss computer chess ideas. >>>>I've been quieter than usual, because I have been busier than usual here at UAB, >>>>and also because of the major changes being made in Crafty to get ready for the >>>>next WCCC. But eventually, everything I have been doing will become public, and >>>>that will continue so long as I am able to continue doing this stuff, hopefully >>>>for many years yet to go... >>>> >>>>Remember that it is just as reasonable to _start_ a thread on some CC topic as >>>>it is to wait for others to start it, and then jump in. In the past few years, >>>>many have chosen to "go commercial" and that ends their participation in >>>>technical discussions. >>>> >>>>That is sad, but it happens. Fortunately there are still a few around that will >>>>continue to discuss things, and continue to push themselves (and the silent >>>>lurkers) forward year by year. One simply has to decide whether to be an active >>>>participant or just a lurker... >>> >>>Sometimes, they also get rejuvenated. I think Bruce Moreland may be picking up >>>interest again. >>> >>>When Ed Schroder retired from computer chess, he gave detailed instructions on >>>how to write a good program on his web site. He was often helpful with advice >>>even when he was programming. >>> >>>I think in Christophe Theron's case, he discovered a beautiful woman and found >>>out that they can be a lot more fun than even chess (drat!) >>> >>>I also think that the academic endeavor is the best approach in the long haul. >>> >>>I think that going professional would probably also take all or most of the fun >>>out of chess programming. >> >>I don't put myself at any of their levels, but I did go away for a year, >>and, with Don Beal's, Brian Richardson's, and Dan Homan's help, modify my >>program so that it learns piece values from entirely randomized play starting >>with all pieces equal to a pawn and no other evaluation knowledge besides >>material. I am currently working on modifying it to do the same for non-material >>pieces and encountering surprising resistance in the code. >> >>Brian convinced me to come back here and take a look at the goings-on and I am >>it is all about Rybka and Fruit - two remarkable programs. I bought Rybka and >>I downloaded Fruit. I've played one game against Rybka and briefly looked >>at Fruit code enough that I know I still don't want to review another >>programmer's code (in any application area) for any reason. >> >>I miss some of the longer discussions on computer chess programming but sobeit. >> >>Threads on the subject seem to die faster now here, but perhaps that's just a >>misperception. > >I've been here a long time. It goes in waves. A lot of the programmers split >time at the Winboard forum now, and I think that takes up a lot of their energy. There is a good reason for that. A programming thread here drifts off page one in a day or so. In a week they're only available in the archives, if at all. But at the WinBoard forum (just checked) some topics go back for more than a year. I guess I just convinced myself to spend more time there. -W
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