version 2.9
27 August 2007 - Current version of j2chess!List of new stuff:
- new features:
- Português do Brasil language support
- New Language option: it is now possible to choose j2chess language regardless of the OS locale (j2chess restart required)
- Game log renderer: little icons are now dislayed (
,
,
...) instead of letters (N, K, ...) - PGN libraries: columns can be dynamicaly sorted
- geek stuff:
- Layout: GroupLayout has been replaced by JGoodies Forms layout manager
version 2.8
22 March 2007List of new stuff:
- new features:
- Export current board position to PNG or JPEG bitmap image
- Board preference: new Display Possible Moves option
- To open a PGN file library, it is now possible to drag & drop the file onto the board
- Direct load of the game if a one game only PGN library is opened
- Board' squares have now a slight border
- bug fix:
- erratic red mark in square board fixed
version 2.7
27 November 2006List of new stuff:
- new features:
- SMP (symmetric multiprocessing ) support: j2chess engine is stronger on multi-cores/CPU systems
- Preferences dialogbox: new Engine tab to access related options (nb of threads, ...)
- geek stuff:
- j2chess engine is also smarter due to a better move selection
- game time management: j2chess uses 1/40th of its remaining time for a move (previously 1/33th)
version 2.6
26 June 2006List of new stuff:
- look and feel: j2chess adopts Matisse (Netbeans GUI builder)
- improved Preferences dialogbox
- improved New Game dialogbox
- improved License Agreement dialogbox
- homogeneous Ok & Cancel buttons
- cosmetic help menu changes
- mate/slatemate/draw dialogboxes redesigned with animated icons
- new features:
- Sound preference: new Mute All option
- Board preference: new Color Gradient option
- Board preference: new Show when king is check option
- Board preference: improved Show Coordinates option
- Board preference: improved Show Last Move option
- geek stuff:
- new performance test (multi-threaded)
- Splash window: check for optimum nb of thread the first run of the 2.6 version
- bug fix:
- on Pawn's excelsior: sub-promotion bug new fixed
version 2.5
19 January 2006List of new stuff:
- feature improvement:
- logical complement to the "Restore previous board" option, a dialogbox now tells if a game is in progress on j2chess startup
- look:
- a redesigned Preferences dialogbox (Mac OS X Aqua style)
- bug fix:
- PGN export: game notation was wrong in case of ambiguous moves
version 2.4
17 December 2005List of new features:
- a new "Game Info" dialogbox to easily update the PGN's Seven Tag Roster of the current game
- a new dedicated area to display brief messages
- engine improvements:
- Zobritz keys (used for Board.equals)
- Hashtable coded but not enabled, too slow!
- bug fixes:
- on j2chess startup: the "display new board" option is now more reliable
- PGN export: game notation was wrong in case of move repetition with check
- legal moves: if the same position occurs 3 times, the draw notified but now additional moves are authorised
- and as always some spelling mistake fixes
version 2.3
13 September 2005List of new features:
- snappier splash window (up to two times quicker to initialise and load resources)
- on j2chess startup, the 2 following options are available:
- display new board
- restore previous board
- computer thoughts can now be stopped anytime by clicking the Play/Stop button
- current game can be saved as PGN file
- new piece style: Mac!
- session username is now used instead of "Human" for player name
- technical stuff:
- j2chess property files are now stored in a proper j2chess directory
- j2chess is now screen resolution aware (to avoid the board to be bigger than the current display!)
- and as always more spelling mistake fixes
version 2.2
11 July 2005List of features:
- new auto promote option
- square coordinates can now be displayed or not
- new sounds and sound options
- improvements concerning the "New game" dialogbox:
- the board matches the defined Side and Time control options
- current game's state is frozen and then restored if the cancel option is chosen
- cosmetic improvements for:
- mate/slatemate/draw dialogboxes
- keyboard shortcuts' window
- blitz mode: active clock's background is highlighted now
- new Help menu's options for the Windows & Mac platforms:
- j2chess website
- email feedback
- j2chess' strength slightly better thanks to an improvement in the moves sorting
- spelling mistake fixes
- bug fix: autoreply option while game in progress
version 2.1
23 May 2005List of features:
- new game dialogbox to define settings
- blitz and blitz Fischer mode are now available for new games
- keyboard shortcuts help is now available
- various user interface improvement (board, preferences and library frame)
- menubar items reshuffled
- menubar is now Mac OS X "friendly"
- game moves are preserved when j2chess is closed and then reopened
- isMaterialTooLow() function improved (to detect draw games in case of low material)
version 2
18 Dec 2004List of features:
- the main board's window can be resized (from tiny to huge!)
- pieces are available in 4 different styles (Alpha, Harlequin, Leipzig & Marroquin)
- when computer plays, piece's move can be animated
- the progressbar is back during computer thought
- annoucement of the Mat is displayed
version 1.4
16 Aug 2004List of features:
- evaluation of position improved (slatemate is now detected)
- board colors improved
version 1.3
15 Jul 2004List of features:
- negaScout improved (now the search function is "time accurate"!)
- preferences dialogbox reorganisation
- mini board
- new buttons' look
- the "show last move" feature is now an option and can be disabled
- the game log is in its own window
version 1.2
03 Apr 2004List of features:
- splash window in its own thread and with a progressbar
- images loaded with MediaTracker during initialisation
- internationalisation (EN and FR, default is EN)
- drag&drop improved
- use of an animated gif during computer thought!
- new feedback mailbox: feedback@j2chess.com
version 1.1
08 Nov 2003List of features:
- splash window improved
- evaluation function improved
- draw is detected if material is insufficient
- code source reorganised in package
version 1.0.2
26 Oct 2003List of features:
- just a bit of code clean-up
version 1.0.1
10 Oct 2003List of features:
- drag&drop of pieces!
- Let the music play: sounds are now available!
- code clean-up
version 1
23 Sept 2003First public version of j2chess! Main features are:
- data structure based on Mailbox representation
- search algorithm based on NegaScout
- opening books
- GUI
- pgn reader