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PicoChess Version 3.1

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@tosca07 tosca07 released this 16 Mar 07:11
· 242 commits to master since this release
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PicoChess V3.1

  • big enhancements for the web server (esp. for PicoChessWeb but not only for that)
  • Support of different eboard types (DGT, Certabo, Chesslink, ChessNut) - this is so cool (thanks Gerhard)!
  • Different ini-files for retro, modern and favorite engines and corresponding menu entries
  • Support of Windows engines (via box86 & wine, not part of this repo)
  • Auto ELO feature for engines supporting the UCI ELO settings
  • Web themes: light, dark
  • RetroSpeed for mame engines via picochess.ini
  • local game and opening book database server which Gerhard added so that we now have this information again provided in the web server

Internal changes:

  • Unified sources for all devices (before we had different sources for the PicochessWeb version (most important for me)

  • Unified translation.py file (new "web_text" tag for longer texts) eg.:
    if text_id == 'pleasewait': entxt = Dgt.DISPLAY_TEXT(web_text='Reboot: please wait', large_text='please wait', medium_text='pls wait', small_text='wait ')

  • Unified engines.ini (new "web" tag for longer engine names), see attached retro.ini eg.:
    [mame/academy]
    name = Mephisto Academy
    small = academ
    medium = Academy
    large = Mep.Academy
    web = Mephisto Academy
    elo = 1980
    levels = 10
    ponder/brain = n

  • Lots of bug fixes (esp. for analysis mode, PGN information display in web server etc.)

  • New (for PicoChessWeb) and alternative (for DGTPI/DGT3000 users) Beep sample sounds instead of internal beeper. For this I have created a new voice „beeper“ which does not need a voice.ini entry (it is not a voice for announcing moves etc.) because it is activated via menu system -> sound -> „sample“). This voice folder must be put into the /picochess/talker/en/ folder and consists of different sound samples for various events (eg after computer move has been played etc. You can here some of these sounds in my last video for the no eboard feature).

  • New "auto" theme option according to sunrise/set and the possibility to change it in the menu

  • New no-eboard/web play only mode for playing without an attached eboard via the web server

  • Search nodes like search depth for NN strength restriction for eg. Leela (with node = 1 you can simulate the maia engine etc.)

  • Retro speed option is now in menu, automatic restart of the (mame-) engine but keep in mind that you have to start a new game after changing the retro speed because of this engine new start as we have no FEN position setup at the moment (so better change it before starting a new game)

  • PGN Replay/Analysis and Guessing Game engine

i) Correct PGN header information (player names, elo) for the current game in web server. Fully automatic replay, you can define the replay speed in the corresponding uci file by specifying a higher or lower thinking time for the analysis engine).
[AlphaZero1]
pgn_game_file = /opt/picochess/engines/pgn_engine/pgn_games/alphazero_stockfish_2018.pgn
pgn_audio_file = /opt/picochess/engines/pgn_engine/pgn_audio/AnnaRudolph_AlphaZeroStockfish.ogg
max_guess= 0
engine_path = /opt/picochess/engines/armv7l/a-stockf
think_time = 1

Pause of audio commentary with II button, pause of fully automatic replay of the game: lever button

ii) full support of guessing game functions when playing in no-eboard/Web Play mode (automatic take back of wrong guessed moves, etc.)

  • PicoTutor in no-eBoard/WebPlay“ mode

i) Get position evaluation by activating PicoCoach (again) because we can’t lift up and replace a piece (that’s the trigger for the tutor evaluation when playing with an eBoard).

ii) In emulation mode with retro/mame engines: support of automatic take back in case of a blunder (because we can’t take back moves the normal way in case of retro engines)