Wandering trought the barren lands of non professional progs

[fern]

I am sure you have, from time to time, as me, navigated in exotic sites or just common downloading locations to see what chess programs they have. Sometimes we tend to believe that the chess universe is just the sum of commercial + the known freeware we see in specialized places. And although this is just enough to populate the landscape with hundreds of engines, in fact there are even more programs out there. Some are commercial, some not. Common to all or almost all of them is that You never get the name of the author. Else: they are extremely weak, fact that could be amazing as much any software house desirous to launch a decent program could, from sure, put a hand on many if not in any of the 100 engines that are more than 2000 elo strong. Seems like they, on purpose, arm his programs with weak engines to give pleasure to the casual player that by chance download them.
Now my question: have you ever found one or two of them worthy of a second look?
I would like to know and see.

My best
Fernando

[Michael Sherwin]

To the author of a really weak chess program that has worked on their creation, maybe for many years, your question could sound rather insulting and hurtful. We can not all say, "let their be a fish". A model to follow is one by Olivier Deville (and others) that include all the weaker engines that they can find and then have a tournament. In the case of Olivier, he even broadcasted the games, so that some authors of really weak programs can have some enjoyment competing with and conversing with each other. So, ask Olivier if he thinks that really weak programs are worth a second look. My thanks to Olivier Deville!

[Graham Banks]

To the author of a really weak chess program that has worked on their creation, maybe for many years, your question could sound rather insulting and hurtful. We can not all say, "let their be a fish". A model to follow is one by Olivier Deville (and others) that include all the weaker engines that they can find and then have a tournament. In the case of Olivier, he even broadcasted the games, so that some authors of really weak programs can have some enjoyment competing with and conversing with each other. So, ask Olivier if he thinks that really weak programs are worth a second look. My thanks to Olivier Deville!

I doubt that Fernando meant any offense. He likes playing the weaker engines and has quite often championed their good qualities.
I think he was referring to the stability and playability of some of the weaker engines that are not well known.

Regards, Graham.

[Olivier Deville]

Hello Fernando, Mike and all

To Fernando : Some chess engines are really weak, this is true... but did you ever try to write a chess engine ? I respect every programmer's work. I test every engine and I like them all.

To Mike : How embarassing Thanks for the kind words.

Olivier

[hgm]

And although this is just enough to populate the landscape with hundreds of engines, in fact there are even more programs out there.

Can you give us any examples?

I think people like Olivier (Chess War), Leo (WBEC) and Guenther (RWBC) really make a great effort to list and lay their hands on any engine they can detect. But if you happen to stumble on anything they have missed so far, I am sure they would be very grateful if you could point them to it.

[nczempin]

I think he's possibly not talking about those engines that are UCI- or WB-compatible, but all those other programs that perhaps have their own gui and that you can find on compilations etc.

Because for the vast majority of engines the author is known.

[fern]

Offense never intended for nobody. I was referring to those programs that are offered almost as a gift or /and cheap commercial ones with no intention to move us, but just to entertain casual players.
Kind of programs you get typing "chess" in Google.

My best
Fernando

[GS]

Offense never intended for nobody. I was referring to those programs that are offered almost as a gift or /and cheap commercial ones with no intention to move us, but just to entertain casual players.
Kind of programs you get typing "chess" in Google.

My best
Fernando

Why not name a few, if you think they are interesting and (perhaps) unknown?
Have you ever looked here: http://rwbc-chess.de/wb_chron.htm ? ;-)

Guenther

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

Offense never intended for nobody. I was referring to those programs that are offered almost as a gift or /and cheap commercial ones with no intention to move us, but just to entertain casual players.
Kind of programs you get typing "chess" in Google.

My best
Fernando

Fernando,a bad boy,again you caused a crisis in the chess community

[Michael Sherwin]

I knew Fern meant no offence. I just wanted to liven things up a bit! And to point out the great work by Olivier of helping some of us lesser lights get some enjoyment from our really weak programs. It was a convienant opportunity.