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LocalChessEngine v0.2.0

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@jnjambrin0 jnjambrin0 released this 16 May 15:49
· 1 commit to main since this release
v0.2.0
46cc4a8

LocalChessEngine v0.2 Release Notes

  • Release: v0.2.0
  • Date: 2026-05-16
  • GitHub repository: jnjambrin0/Master-Chess
  • Previous baseline: v0.1 HCE-default build-ready baseline

Summary

v0.2 is a focused portfolio polish release for LocalChessEngine. It keeps the
validated v0.1 chess-engine baseline intact while improving the public README,
GUI presentation, release metadata, screenshots, and compliance wording for a
technical portfolio audience.

HCE remains the default evaluation. NNUE remains technically integrated but
experimental/default-off for playing strength because BLK-002 remains active:
the trained small/v1 networks did not produce sufficient strength evidence over
HCE.

Highlights

  • Added a portfolio-grade README with table of contents, project snapshot,
    Mermaid architecture diagram, screenshots, engine/GUI/trainer overview,
    concise quick starts, compliance notes, and honest validation claims.
  • Added versioned README graphics under docs/assets/readme/: app icon,
    main-window smoke screenshot, and analysis-window smoke screenshot.
  • Preserved the Qt Widgets GUI architecture and the UCI process boundary between
    GUI and engine.
  • Added/kept GUI polish around app branding, centralized evaluation formatting,
    board-adjacent evaluation bar, sidebar simplification, and palette-aware
    contrast.
  • Updated version metadata to 0.2.0 in CMake, GUI application metadata,
    trainer package metadata, compliance docs, and macOS packaging.
  • Made macOS packaging derive its version from CMakeLists.txt to reduce future
    release drift.
  • Kept NNUE wording precise: the pipeline, C++ loading, scalar/NEON equivalence,
    and trainer tooling exist, but no NNUE network is promoted for strength.

Validation Summary

The following checks were run during the v0.2 release preparation:

Gate Result
cmake --build --preset debug --target localchessengine localchessengine_gui localchessengine_gui_tests PASS
./build/debug/tests/localchessengine_gui_tests ./build/debug/engine/localchessengine PASS
GUI smoke snapshot: normal window PASS, generated 2080x1440 PNG
GUI smoke snapshot: analysis window PASS, generated 2080x1440 PNG
ctest --preset debug --output-on-failure PASS, 2/2 tests
python3 tools/run_validation_gate.py --profile smoke --out-dir build/validation/v0.2-smoke PASS
Release bench PASS, deterministic signature 18417 nodes
CPW perft depth 4 in validation smoke PASS, six reference positions
Cute Chess smoke in validation smoke PASS, 2 games, no illegal moves/crashes/disconnects/timeouts/missing output
cmake --preset release PASS
cmake --build --preset release --target localchessengine localchessengine_gui PASS
python3 tools/build_compliance_package.py --check PASS
python3 -m py_compile for touched Python release/trainer scripts PASS
git diff --check PASS

Packaging Status

A local macOS DMG was generated and Developer ID signed:

  • build/release-package/LocalChessEngine-0.2.0.dmg

The package passed local codesign verification, embedded engine bench, packaged
GUI smoke, mounted-DMG engine bench, and mounted-DMG GUI smoke. Public binary
distribution is still pending because Apple notarization failed during the local
run with NSURLErrorDomain Code=-1009 / no network route to Apple notary
service. As a result, Gatekeeper reported Unnotarized Developer ID.

For GitHub v0.2.0, the release is published as a source release with these notes;
no notarized macOS binary asset is attached.

Explicit Non-Changes

  • No engine move-generation, make/unmake, UCI, search, HCE, or NNUE runtime
    behavior was retuned or promoted for v0.2.
  • No NNUE network is promoted for playing strength.
  • No generated build directories, local datasets, checkpoints, logs, or package
    outputs are source-controlled.

Known Risks And Follow-Ups

  • Re-run python3 tools/package_macos_release.py --skip-build when Apple notary
    network access is available, then verify xcrun stapler validate and
    spctl --assess before uploading a macOS DMG asset.
  • BLK-002 remains active; future NNUE releases need meaningful fixed-game/SPRT
    evidence before changing defaults.
  • The selected public GitHub repository intentionally keeps release evidence
    compact. Historical local validation outputs are summarized here rather than
    publishing every generated report.
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