ZCT 0.3.2451

[Zach Wegner]

Finally, here it is folks. This is pretty much the version that played in the WCRCC, with the addition of native Windows code for SMP compatibility (generously contributed by Teemu Pudas). There are still some weird issues with SMP: only with 2 processors its stable, and even then some searches the child processor won't search. It also still eats up processor time when idle in SMP mode, so either play with ponder off, or just have some extra processors. I just haven't really had the time to fix these problems, but I figure it's better to get something out that kind of works than nothing at all. ZCT does now have a user-adjustable path for EGBBs though.

This release includes Jim Ablett-compiled Windows executables for 32 and 64 bit, SMP and non. There is also an opening book by Dr. Wael Deeb.

https://sourceforge.net/project/showfil ... _id=226014

There is also a new ZCT mailing list, for release announcements, code improvement discussions, bug reports, chatting, etc. You can sign up here: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/zct-list

A big thanks to Teemu Pudas, Fonzy Bluemers, and Jim Ablett for all kinds of help, Wael Deeb for the book, Patrick Buchmann, Graham Banks, and Aart Bik for running tournaments with ZCT, and everyone else that uses ZCT. I hope you enjoy this latest offering.

[F. Bluemers]

Thanks for the new version ,Zach
Some extra power is needed to stop this Twisted Logic monster messing up my dirty tour

Code: Select all

It also still eats up processor time when idle in SMP mode

my linux box is busy,
is this feature in windows only?

Best
Fonzy

[Zach Wegner]

Thanks for the new version ,Zach

My pleasure. Guys like you are what make the CC community so great.

Some extra power is needed to stop this Twisted Logic monster messing up my dirty tour

Hehe... I don't know how much this will help. Maybe you should go download xyclOps...

Code: Select all

It also still eats up processor time when idle in SMP mode

my linux box is busy,
is this feature in windows only?
Best
Fonzy

Unfortunately yes, but only the extra processors are affected. So for example you could run a single processor program against ZCT ponder off on a dual core. ZCT's main processor won't eat up CPU time, and the idle one can churn alongside the other program.

[F. Bluemers]

Thanks for the new version ,Zach

My pleasure. Guys like you are what make the CC community so great.

Some extra power is needed to stop this Twisted Logic monster messing up my dirty tour

Hehe... I don't know how much this will help. Maybe you should go download xyclOps...
eh ... no

Code: Select all

It also still eats up processor time when idle in SMP mode

my linux box is busy,
is this feature in windows only?
Best
Fonzy

Unfortunately yes, but only the extra processors are affected. So for example you could run a single processor program against ZCT ponder off on a dual core. ZCT's main processor won't eat up CPU time, and the idle one can churn alongside the other program.

This particular smp bug is/has been hunting crafty and arasan as well iirc.

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

Finally, here it is folks. This is pretty much the version that played in the WCRCC, with the addition of native Windows code for SMP compatibility (generously contributed by Teemu Pudas). There are still some weird issues with SMP: only with 2 processors its stable, and even then some searches the child processor won't search. It also still eats up processor time when idle in SMP mode, so either play with ponder off, or just have some extra processors. I just haven't really had the time to fix these problems, but I figure it's better to get something out that kind of works than nothing at all. ZCT does now have a user-adjustable path for EGBBs though.

This release includes Jim Ablett-compiled Windows executables for 32 and 64 bit, SMP and non. There is also an opening book by Dr. Wael Deeb.

https://sourceforge.net/project/showfil ... _id=226014

There is also a new ZCT mailing list, for release announcements, code improvement discussions, bug reports, chatting, etc. You can sign up here: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/zct-list

A big thanks to Teemu Pudas, Fonzy Bluemers, and Jim Ablett for all kinds of help, Wael Deeb for the book, Patrick Buchmann, Graham Banks, and Aart Bik for running tournaments with ZCT, and everyone else that uses ZCT. I hope you enjoy this latest offering.

Congratulations for your first MP release and good luck

[swami]

Thanks Zach, With Mp support and stronger version that scored 7.5 in World Rapid Champs, It is gonna make a big leap in elo.

Btw, Is .2451 in version number something related to the engine's ratings from your test? or am I just being a comp chess geek?

[Zach Wegner]

Thanks Zach, With Mp support and stronger version that scored 7.5 in World Rapid Champs, It is gonna make a big leap in elo.

I'm not sure how much stronger it will be than .2447. That's what you guys are for.

And I just now realized I forgot to mention thank you in the original post for testing ZCT.
So, thanks for testing!! And Tony Thomas too! I should've covered my bases. Thanks to everyone for testing it if you have!

Btw, Is .2451 in version number something related to the engine's ratings from your test? or am I just being a comp chess geek?

No, but I hope so. Here's the story of my rating system:
Back when I started the rewrite of my old engine, three years ago, I made a folder called nz0.2. That is, new ZCT, 2nd version. The next version was nz0.21, then .22. Here I decided to go even more fine grained so I could keep my changes a little more organized, so the next version was .221. Once this got into the .23s, I made a new testing framework that I would put tons of changes into, just little tweaks and such, and then have the computer work out the strength. I lost the old testing framework with my new computer, but I've been slowly building it back up, so the version numbers haven't been increasing all that much. At some point along the way I realized that this was really the 3rd full chess program I've made, so hence the 0.3.x. This has just grown over time.

[swami]

Welcome, and Thanks, Zach for an explanation of the story behind the version number.