What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.10

• Changed Makefile.linux to work with NetRexx 2.0 .
• In Mating Mode, "Black must vary" is used as the repetition rule.
• When loading a saved game, the title is now set correctly to indicate the handicap in use.
• Fixed "Print as Graphic" function.
• Changed the Handicaps banding.
• Changed the C++ code to more closely conform to the ANSI standard. However, the version of g++ I have does not support stringstreams. So I use the older strstreams. These can probably be found in strstream.h supplied with your compiler. If not, we have a slight problem.
• Fixed a bug when doing a takeback after a pass.
• Fixed a bug introduced in 2.9 which prevented internet mode from working.
• Added Internet support for "Sudden Death" mode and not reseting the clock. Note that you must re-create the SQL tables, (first destroying (or use a different database) the existing tables) and the restart.catalog file (or use a different name(. The 2.08 versions are not usable with 2.10.

• I have attempted to fix a bug when restarting an Internet game - both players could end up with the same time.

  As I have not been able to reproduce the bug over my LAN, I do not know whether or not this bug is fixed.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.9

• Java classes are now compiled for 1.2, not 1.1, compatibility.
• Added debugging option "Log Statistics".
• Enable "Trace calls to Search" by default when selecting logging, except in Mating Mode.
• Changed logging to write in XML, and added trace.xsl (and make trace) transform to create a GTK+ tree viewing program, and mate.xsl to create a GTK+ tree viewing program of the entire solution space.
• Improved computer's use of time (it won't lose on time, now).
• Slight improvements in speed for the computer opponent.
• Added "Rotate the board" function.
• Added "Move Forward" (opposite of "Take Back") function.
• Changed the accelerator key for "Take Back" to be the right arrow key.
• Added two more timing parameters. There is a "Sudden Death" mode - byo yomi is not used. This should not be used with either of the computer opponents. There is also a mode in which the clock is not reset if you use less than one minute of time. This is safe to use in all conditions.
• Added an Alfter mode, for use at Alfter.
• In Mating Mode, "Black must vary" is used as the repetition rule.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.8

• Fixed a bug in generating Horned Falcon second moves.
• Changed Internet mode to transmit moves and time information in one line.
• Fixed code to allow rejection of a connection - also removed the alarm on connection, as it duplicates this function (and wasn't working, either).

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.7

• Changed Show Principal Continuation to show the best try in Mating Mode, when the result is uncertain.
• Changed HeaderDialog for better entry of Internet opponent's name.
• Changed the default for Mating Mode to be no repetition rule.
• Fixed a spurious promotion bug in Internet Mode, and a few other minor bugs.
• If Visual Alarm is set, then if you do a Wait for Connection, you will be informed when someone connects.
• Fixed bugs related to the clocks in non-GMT time zones.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.6

• Added accelerator keys F2 and F3 for Load/Save position as augmented Forsyth.
• Repetition becomes legal in Mating Mode, if you turn on Supression repetition checking (you have to do this by hand, after selecting Load Augmented Forsyth). This hasn't been properly tested (that is, I tried it out on problem A4, and it gives the same solution as without supression).

  N.B. It has been tested now, and works. A4 is soluble without repetition.

• You can now play games across the Internet.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.5

• Fixed a bug backing out after a double move.
• Fixed a series of bugs related to delayed promotions.
• Added a Pause function (at the request of Michael Vanier), which stops the clock for a human player (resumed by pressing any mouse button).

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.4

• There is now a mating problem mode.
• There is now a debugging option to show the principal continuation. This is turned on automatically for mating mode.
• There are various logging options under the debugging menu.
• There is more control over how the computer opponent allocates its time.
• Program promoted to 8 Kyu (due to it winning a good Three Lions and one piece game against me, at 3 hours, using divisors 2 and 3 set at 4 and 5 respectively - i.e. it played a good endgame for once - it has since once twice more at this handicap (and I have not), so I think the promotion is well justified).
• There is an option to ignore the flag falling. This is turned on automatically for mating mode, but can also be used in general games.
• Zillions of bugs fixed.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.3

• The debugging option of displaying the move tree has been removed, as it never worked very well, and is even more problematic in the new environment.
• The other debugging options have been consolidated into a single Show Statistics check-box.
• I have removed the 2/3/4/5/6 ply options - the Version 1 computer opponent now searches to a fixed depth of 2-ply (unless the extra move option is enabled), and the Version 2 opponent uses the amount of time (based on a game length of 180 moves - western count) allowed to decide how deeply it searches, from move to move.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.2

• I have made some (but not much) progress on the display move tree bug. It is definitely a memory problem.

  Recommended use is only to use it for one particular move (take back, save the game, and then repeat the move you are interested in), followed by restarting the game.

• I have re-written the routines that move a piece via the mouse. As a result, there are no longer problems with promotions and double moves. As a side effect, the take-back facility now requires less memory (it only has to store three pieces, rather than the whole board, for each move), and is more robust (you can take back to move two, or to the beginning, if you have played an even number of moves).
• Added a file filter to the Load/Save Game dialogs, so that by default, only Chu Saved Game files are displayed. Also, by default, all types of saved files (other than set-up files) are looked for in a FILES sub-directory. I recommend you make this a symbolic link to some other permanent diectory (if your file system supports symbolic links).
• There are now routines for saving the position, in various formats, including printing the graphic. The latter can be sent directly to the printing subsystem, or to a file. On my system, it creates a postscript file, but when I try to view the file, it is only part of the board. I don't know why this should be.
• It is also possible to load a position from a saved (or hand-built) .fsy or .caf file (the latter is best, as it contains the necessary extra information so that the program can determine whether a piece can promote or not).
• CTRL-left-mouse-button now edits the square selected, so it is possible to set up the position however you like. It is also possible to switch from black-to-move to white-to-move and vice-versa (load position assumes black is to move).
• I have now finished the Handicap system. As a result, many of the board.data files have been changed.
• The format of the saved-game file has changed - it now includes the name of the set-up file. The program attempts to guess this name for format 1 files.
• I have thoroughly over-hauled the help screens (it needed doing).
• Some bugs and poor features have been fixed.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.1

• The version 2 computer player is much faster, so that now it can search to more than one ply deeper then version 2.0.
• There is an option to supress checking for repetition by the computer player. This causes the computer to run approximately 25% faster.
• The non-even handicap settings are now treated identically to even games, as far as selecting sides goes.
• Selecting a new game no longer changes any settings.
• More settings are now saved by the Save Settings menu action.
• Some bugs have been fixed.

What's new in Chu Shogi Version 2.0

• The program now has a choice of two computer players. The player from version 1 is retained, (with minor improvements), and will run anywhere that the rest of the program will run.

  The new version 2 player is written entirely in C++, and so runs about 10 times faster. It is also a little stronger at a given setting, compared with version 1. The catch is that the program must be compiled for the particular Operating System/hardware combination upon which you are running.

• Choice of Japanes or International pieces.
• Ability to Save/Load a game. There are some limitations to this. When loading a game, the program expects that the data file upon which you saved the game, is present under the standard name. So if you have modified any of the data files, it is not so easy to share saved games with other people. Also, the program rigidly adheres to the modern convention - Black plays first in even games, White plays first in handicap games. So if you wish to enter and save the historical games, you will have to mentally transcribe the moves before playing them.

  The saved game file format (use a name ending in .csg if you can, as the program might enforce this in the future), allows you to imbed lines starting with the word "Comment ", but there is no facility withtin the program to edit the file as yet - you will have to use a seperate text editor. Nor does the program display these comments, though a future version will do so.

• There is now an "Undo" facility, to take back moves made in error, or for game analysis (a future version will feature a seperate analysis window).
• You can now save your favourite settings. The defaults (shipped in the read-only file ".defaultProperties") are designed for people who have not yet been introduced to the game, and features the version 1 computer player. So for most people, the first thing to do will be to change the defaults. (They are saved in a file named chu.Properties, so you can visually inspect the file if you wish).
• A visual alarm message can optionally pop-up when the computer has moved. This can be seen by a moderately short-sighted Chu Shogi player, from the other side of the room, whilst reading "Kenilworth", by Sir Walter Scott.
• An option (version 2 player only) for the computer to always promote (and only consider promotions by the human player). This is designed to speed up the computer player. I tend to not promote about once every other game, though I have only once dome so against this program, so it might be worth trying.
• You can now change the computer settings (depth of search) from move to move (unless tournament mode is in effect).
• It is now possible to play handicaps as black, or in human-versus-human mode. Just toggle the settings a few times, and all will be well.

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