SCID5, SCID 4.8, SCIDvsPC, ChessDB

[ydebilloez]

Dear all,

I get a bit confused on the different SCID applications.
I have seen references to SCID5, yet last version is 4.8.

Another related question is, what is the best version of SCID amongst all those clones (SCID5, SCID 4.8, SCIDvsPC, ChessDB), especially when it comes to Mac or Linux? And where is their sf/github/... main repository.

Thanks,
Yves

[Dariusz]

Here you will find some information about Scid and Scid vs. PC in Linux.
https://www.chessengeria.com/post/linux ... s-software

"(...)
The similar name of both programs is not accidental. Scid is a program - the "older brother" of Scid vs. PC.
More or less since 2009 Scid vs. PC has gone its own way introducing new features.
Scid is also develop and mainly focused on working with large chess databases and using chess engines.
Undoubtedly, Scid is a very good program, if you don't care about additional features and you value stability, give Scid a chance and install it.
"

And here about Scid vs. PC on Mac
https://www.chessengeria.com/post/tools ... rkshop-mac

[Colin-G]

After I first got interested in computer chess in 1999 I used the free ChessBase Lite for a few years.
I eventually reached the max number of games limit for my engine-engine matches and started looking for another free database.
By then I was using linux and discovered Scid which I compiled and have used ever since. I still use that old version 3.5 of Scid (by Shane Hudson around 2003/4) in linux since it works without problems and does all I need.
Shane disappeared from the chess world not long after this release and the Scid project was eventually taken over by other people.

[whelanh]

SCID continues to be actively maintained and enhanced by Fulvio Benini. He has introduced a number of new features recently ( activity can be seen at https://sourceforge.net/u/fulvioscid/ac ... a93964569e ). I really like SCID for it's ability to handle large databases and ease of integrating engine analysis.

[foolnotion]

In my opinion, the best Scid is [Scidb](https://sourceforge.net/projects/scidb/) by Gregor Cramer. Although the project seems to be unmaintained for the time being, it is by far the most competently programmed, featureful and good looking scid* program.

I kinda hope I will have time to look at the source code and change it to my own needs (as a 2300-something FM it has been my tool of choice for opening preparation and analysis). My goals would be:

- switch to CMake as a build system
- better modularization (and maybe get rid of MSTL and replace with modern C++)
- perhaps extract parts of scidb as libraries - especially the database stuff
- integration with open chess database (https://github.com/nguyenpham/ocgdb)
- better engine integration (cannot run more than one engine atm)

[supersharp77]

Dear all,

I get a bit confused on the different SCID applications.
I have seen references to SCID5, yet last version is 4.8.

Another related question is, what is the best version of SCID amongst all those clones (SCID5, SCID 4.8, SCIDvsPC, ChessDB), especially when it comes to Mac or Linux? And where is their sf/github/... main repository.

Thanks,
Yves

Well My Favorites are Scid vs PC (You can play Chess Engine Matches) and Also I like the "Look" of Chess DB for some reason...The one I'ved used the most is Scid for Android for some reason....

[Fulvio]

I get a bit confused on the different SCID applications.
I have seen references to SCID5, yet last version is 4.8.

I'm sorry if I caused any confusion:
4.8.0 is the current version.
5.0.0 is the soon to be released new version.

What's new:

• a new database codec ( https://github.com/benini/scid/wiki/Dat ... dec:-SCID5 ).
  It solves some limitations of the previous format which for example wasn't able to store this:
  https://ccrl.chessdom.com/ccrl/4040/CCR ... 83].pgn.7z
• ability to store and analyze chess960 games (useful for example to understand and correct the errors of the games played)
• ability to work directly on PGN files.
  Obviously the native codec have better performance, but for small databases may be convenient to save or add games directly on PGNs without necessarily have to convert them.
• evaluation bar, that also allows to add a new engine with just a couple of clicks. ( https://github.com/benini/scid/wiki/Chess-engines )
• new engine management. Multiple engines can be used at the same time (previously just 2), the engine options can be easily changed (previously it was necessary to restart the engine) and it also possible to use remote engines.
• Last but not least (not being supported directly by the graphics library, it took a lot of work): a dark theme .

[Kirk]

I get a bit confused on the different SCID applications.
I have seen references to SCID5, yet last version is 4.8.

I'm sorry if I caused any confusion:
4.8.0 is the current version.
5.0.0 is the soon to be released new version.

What's new:

• a new database codec ( https://github.com/benini/scid/wiki/Dat ... dec:-SCID5 ).
  It solves some limitations of the previous format which for example wasn't able to store this:
  https://ccrl.chessdom.com/ccrl/4040/CCR ... 83].pgn.7z
• ability to store and analyze chess960 games (useful for example to understand and correct the errors of the games played)
• ability to work directly on PGN files.
  Obviously the native codec have better performance, but for small databases may be convenient to save or add games directly on PGNs without necessarily have to convert them.
• evaluation bar, that also allows to add a new engine with just a couple of clicks. ( https://github.com/benini/scid/wiki/Chess-engines )
• new engine management. Multiple engines can be used at the same time (previously just 2), the engine options can be easily changed (previously it was necessary to restart the engine) and it also possible to use remote engines.
• Last but not least (not being supported directly by the graphics library, it took a lot of work): a dark theme .

Any thoughts of adding verbose commentary to engine analyst for fun?

[Ozymandias]

5.0.0 is the soon to be released new version.

[clearing throat] how soon?

[Fulvio]

5.0.0 is the soon to be released new version.

[clearing throat] how soon?

Fair point, I have not worked on scid for a few month.
However I picked it up again in the last days: let's say in a couple of weeks.