Re: [computer-go] Some observations regarding KGS tournaments

[steve uurtamo <apoxonpoo@xxxxxxxxx>]

> 1. There is no clear and obvious definition of when
> derivative works
> are "different enough".

true.  but if there are large chunks of code
that you never rewrite, but replace unseen when
they are updated by other parties (say, board
evaluation routines, not C libraries), and which
have a lot to do with the playing ability
of your code, and which aren't child's play to
understand/come up with, then really, it's hard to
argue that you aren't a derivative program.  (note
the difference between 'aren't' and 'weren't').

you can probably determine if the above-mentioned
things are true of your code, and just plain be
honest (these tournaments aren't for money anyway).

> I think
> Nick's proposal to
>    split the tournaments into two divisions is worth
> trying.

i agree.  if it turns out that we don't learn as much
about computer go as a result, then maybe it's not
the right move.  my guess is that any tournament that
anyone's code enters will give them useful information
about limitations of their code.

> Another alternative is to let GNU
> Go, or some other
>    engine, score the games. Programmers who don't
> trust the scoring
>    engine to get it right should play until all dead
> opponent stones
>    have been removed, others may stop whenever they
> think the position
>    is sufficiently settled.

this is a nice idea.

by the way, (and this is in response to a different
comment earlier) -- the idea that whomever has access
to the most computer power wins was proven true for
big blue, but is not yet close to being true for go.
for one thing, the evaluation functions involved just
aren't that sophisticated yet.

all of this will be much more exciting when a program,
any program, has a shot at beating an actual 
professional.  so in that sense, it's nice to see it
get argued about early (if even a decade or so early).

s.


		
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