In the DECUS library is a chess program for RT-11 called "Chess V001D".
I'm hoping to learn more about it and to find the MACRO-11 source.

I'm primarily interested because back around 1978 I wrote a paper describing the move selection algorithm it used, and I think I'd enjoy looking at it again. Unfortunately, by the time I had a home computer (1986) I no longer had a copy of my paper (not a significant loss. really) or the source code for the program.

Actually running the code is not all that important to me, though it would be fun.

I found the DECUS library program at ftp.update.uu.se/pub/pdp11/rt/games/chess.sav, but lacking a PDP-11 and with no remaining knowledge of RT-11, I can't do much with that file other than examine it in raw binary form--which revealed that it includes a brief text file of instructions for playing the game.

I also know of, but have never seen, a CHESS-11 program for RSX.

I'd be grateful to learn anything more about CHESS V001D, CHESS-11, or any others that ran on the PDP-11, especially if any documentation and/or source has been preserved.

On 2023-01-07 19:16, Galen wrote:
> In the DECUS library is a chess program for RT-11 called "Chess V001D".
> I'm hoping to learn more about it and to find the MACRO-11 source.
>
>
> I'm primarily interested because back around 1978 I wrote a paper describing the move selection algorithm it used, and I think I'd enjoy looking at it again. Unfortunately, by the time I had a home computer (1986) I no longer had a copy of my paper (not a significant loss. really) or the source code for the program.
>
> Actually running the code is not all that important to me, though it would be fun.
>
> I found the DECUS library program at ftp.update.uu.se/pub/pdp11/rt/games/chess.sav, but lacking a PDP-11 and with no remaining knowledge of RT-11, I can't do much with that file other than examine it in raw binary form--which revealed that it includes a brief text file of instructions for playing the game.
>
> I also know of, but have never seen, a CHESS-11 program for RSX.
>
> I'd be grateful to learn anything more about CHESS V001D, CHESS-11, or any others that ran on the PDP-11, especially if any documentation and/or source has been preserved.

You can find sources, a compiled version for RSX, and play around with
the whole thing on MIM. There is also a second version, written in
Fortran in that directory.

Telnet to mim.stupi.net, login as guest, change directory to US:[CHESS]
and have fun.

Johnny

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:01:30 AM UTC-8, Johnny Billquist wrote:

(snip)

> You can find sources, a compiled version for RSX, and play around with
> the whole thing on MIM. There is also a second version, written in
> Fortran in that directory.

> Telnet to mim.stupi.net, login as guest, change directory to US:[CHESS]
> and have fun.

It seems that telnet works, and ftp works to login, but the directory
change doens't work with ftp.

It says "Not allowed" if you. cd US:[CHESS]

thanks.

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:01:30 AM UTC-8, Johnny Billquist wrote:

(snip)

> You can find sources, a compiled version for RSX, and play around with
> the whole thing on MIM. There is also a second version, written in
> Fortran in that directory.

OK, the chess.ftn program doesn't end with END.

Either that, or TYPE truncates files.

So far, I found that I could TYPE CHESS.FTN, and it ends in an
assignment statement.

On 2023-01-15 03:14, gah4 wrote:
> On Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:01:30 AM UTC-8, Johnny Billquist wrote:
>
> (snip)
>
>> You can find sources, a compiled version for RSX, and play around with
>> the whole thing on MIM. There is also a second version, written in
>> Fortran in that directory.
>
>> Telnet to mim.stupi.net, login as guest, change directory to US:[CHESS]
>> and have fun.
>
> It seems that telnet works, and ftp works to login, but the directory
> change doens't work with ftp.
>
> It says "Not allowed" if you. cd US:[CHESS]

You are logging in anonymous. Anonymous access to RSX is not allowed to
access other directories. Login with ftp, with the user "guest", just as
when you log in, and you'll be fine.

Johnny

On 2023-01-15 09:29, gah4 wrote:
> On Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:01:30 AM UTC-8, Johnny Billquist wrote:
>
> (snip)
>
>> You can find sources, a compiled version for RSX, and play around with
>> the whole thing on MIM. There is also a second version, written in
>> Fortran in that directory.
>
> OK, the chess.ftn program doesn't end with END.
>
> Either that, or TYPE truncates files.
>
> So far, I found that I could TYPE CHESS.FTN, and it ends in an
> assignment statement.

Looked at the file, and it seems to just be slightly corrupted at the
end. A few lines, including the END are repeated a number of times at
the end.

That was from the DECUS tape I pulled the files from. But easy to fix. I
edited that thing now.

Johnny