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chess engine on Android containing a terminal mode

Axilerator

Hello dear chess companions!
As you probably know, when you install chess engines like Stockfish on Android, they are not usable on its own but require the additional installation of a chess GUI like Chess for Android, DroidFish, Chessis, Chess PGN Master and many more. This is ok, as these GUIs provide a comfortable interface for chess players. The drawback is, however, that you are dependent on the functionality of the GUIs. Some commands, which the engine might provide, are not accessible (e.g. "perft"). If you want to test and communicate with the pure engine, you must use a terminal program and UCI-commands.
Since 1984 when I got my first home computer (Amstrad CPC 6128), I have written countless chess programs just for my own pleasure. Although I also created some GUIs, I always had a terminal mode for testing the programs "the old fashioned way" :)

For my latest version, Astimate 4, I set myself several new challenges:

  • it should run as an engine on Android and work with the aforementioned Android GUIs
  • at the same time it should have a terminal-mode so that you can communicate with it using text commands
  • it should contain everything in one binary: engine, opening book, NNUE-network and even 3-4-5-pieces perfect endgame knowledge
  • and finally I want to publish the Android version on Google Play for the first time. The app is free, contains no advertising whatsoever and requires no Android permissions.

Everything has worked out fine and I the engine works like a charm. However, the last point turned out to be the hardest: to keep high quality standards of Google Play Apps, Google requires that at least 12 people test the app over 14 days. Testing includes to open the app regularily and give comments on the usability or possible glitches. I have some friends who are willing to test the app, but they are either no chess players or they have no Android device or no gmail-address. However, all of that is a necessary prerequisite :(

So, if anyone of you is interested in testing my app I would be very thankful if you could provide me with your gmail address, so that I can start the test as soon as I have at least 12 people (I already have 6). You will then receive further information where to get the app and what to do.
In return I can offer to test anyone elses chess app too, no matter if you want to pulish it or not. I can also provide you with insider knowledge on how to write a chess program :)

thanks in advance for considering to help me,
Axel

Hello dear chess companions! As you probably know, when you install chess engines like Stockfish on Android, they are not usable on its own but require the additional installation of a chess GUI like Chess for Android, DroidFish, Chessis, Chess PGN Master and many more. This is ok, as these GUIs provide a comfortable interface for chess players. The drawback is, however, that you are dependent on the functionality of the GUIs. Some commands, which the engine might provide, are not accessible (e.g. "perft"). If you want to test and communicate with the pure engine, you must use a terminal program and UCI-commands. Since 1984 when I got my first home computer (Amstrad CPC 6128), I have written countless chess programs just for my own pleasure. Although I also created some GUIs, I always had a terminal mode for testing the programs "the old fashioned way" :) For my latest version, Astimate 4, I set myself several new challenges: - it should run as an engine on Android and work with the aforementioned Android GUIs - at the same time it should have a terminal-mode so that you can communicate with it using text commands - it should contain everything in one binary: engine, opening book, NNUE-network and even 3-4-5-pieces perfect endgame knowledge - and finally I want to publish the Android version on Google Play for the first time. The app is free, contains no advertising whatsoever and requires no Android permissions. Everything has worked out fine and I the engine works like a charm. However, the last point turned out to be the hardest: to keep high quality standards of Google Play Apps, Google requires that at least 12 people test the app over 14 days. Testing includes to open the app regularily and give comments on the usability or possible glitches. I have some friends who are willing to test the app, but they are either no chess players or they have no Android device or no gmail-address. However, all of that is a necessary prerequisite :( So, if anyone of you is interested in testing my app I would be very thankful if you could provide me with your gmail address, so that I can start the test as soon as I have at least 12 people (I already have 6). You will then receive further information where to get the app and what to do. In return I can offer to test anyone elses chess app too, no matter if you want to pulish it or not. I can also provide you with insider knowledge on how to write a chess program :) thanks in advance for considering to help me, Axel

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