Chess for Android Release (API30 complaint)

[abik]

I worked hard to make Chess for Android API30 compliant, and the latest version 6.4 will roll out soon on Google Play (pending verification by Play). The new features include:

• Prepare the app for all new API 30 requirements
• Added move coach for electronic chess boards
• Completely revised file management under user-controlled permission
• Enhanced engine import from external packages

File navigation actually has improved as a result, but loading and saving will look a little different. Also, tournament games are saved internally first, and need an explicit export to external storage at the end of a tournament. Most of this is hopefully self-explanatory, but I also updated the online manual with the new details. Engine import from packages is still working, but keep in mind that engine install from SD card has not been functional since API29 due to stricter permissions control.

[Nordlandia]

I see. Seems difficult to install new stockfish versions.

I want to try engine games on my new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3.

[mclane]

Which cpu is in the fold ?!

[Chessqueen]

Which cpu is in the fold ?!

It is the 4th fastest cell phone on this List of Cell phone CPUs https://nanoreview.net/en/soc-list/rating
or https://www.cashify.in/best-processor-f ... nking-list

Here it is, Click on compare the Models https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/ ... 11uzkeatt/
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Octa-core

[mclane]

I see . 888+.
But the 888, the 888+ and the successor Snapdragon 8 generation 1
is too hot.

The Motorola edge 30 (x30) was measured with this cpu doing benchmarks with 48 degrees on the loudspeaker keys and 50 degrees inside the phone.

[Nordlandia]

I prefer using all-cores minus one for the OS.

Is it possible to place the stockfish binary manually in the "Chess for Android" folder ?

[abik]

Is it possible to place the stockfish binary manually in the "Chess for Android" folder ?

Some background:

(1) Alas, in Dec 2020, Google Play required all app updates to be API29 compliant, which imposed severe restrictions on the W^X violation (see this older thread). As a result, you can no longer install third party engines from SD card into Chess for Android. Note that there are still a few chess apps out there that allow this, simply because they have not updated since Dec last year. Such apps can choose to never update, or otherwise will lose that functionality too.

(2) In Dec 2021, Google Play required all app updates to be API30 complaint, which imposes restrictions on how files can be accessed. With some work, and by using a more per-directory an per-file navigation system, I kept the functionality of loading and storing PGN files working, as well as running engine tournaments from opening books, such as the Nunn test set.

(3) Third party engines installed through packages that use e.g. the Chessbase compatible format, or the OEX standard, keep on working. So third party engine support is kept alive, although it now depends on somebody to actually provide engine binaries through packages.

[mephisto]

Hi Aart

I don't suppose that you have a list of the Chessbase compatible format, or the OEX standard chess engines that can be used with Chess for Android.

Regards
Bryan

[Ras]

Is it possible to place the stockfish binary manually in the "Chess for Android" folder ?

Easier alternative: use the F-Droid store, install Droidfish (it's updated there), use engines like before Google went crazy. It's also a better way for engine programmers because it's just compiling the Linux engine version using the NDK with no special Android fuss. Would be nice if CfA were also available via F-Droid.

[abik]

I don't suppose that you have a list of the Chessbase compatible format, or the OEX standard chess engines that can be used with Chess for Android.

I don't keep my list very up-to-date neither do I run as many tournaments as I used to do in the early days , but I can give you some anecdotal pointers of the two protocols.

The Android Chessbase compatible format is the least frequently used. Right now only Deep Fritz 15 through the free Android Chessbase Fritz App and my own modest BikJump ship in that format.

The OEX is used the most. There are several engine packages available, for example, by Karl Schreiner (various stockfish variants and several other engines). Then there are commercial engines available in packages such as Komodo (lower versions are free, higher version are commercial; also I observed problems on API30 with the commercial versions of Komodo and wrote their support about it, but have not gotten a reply back).

These are just a few examples. Others please reply with more examples if you feel I left important ones out.