hstzaar-0.9: RELEASE-NOTES

hstzaar 0.9 14/02/2012
- corrected error in game tree generation (didn't check end of game properly)
- improved the AI evaluation function; plays much better now
- refactored the game tree code into a separate module (Tree.hs)
- cleaned up the GUI code using MVars instead of IORefs
- added the option for human to play white or black
- following the board game rules, the default is now to play
  the randomized board with an option for the fixed position  
- changed the save game format to an implementation-independent XML;
  old saved games no longer work, but future releases should be backwards-compatible

hstzaar 0.8.2 31/10/2011
- tweaked the AI evaluation function; should play better now
- AI level 1 is now default
- added option to not draw piece stacks

hstzaar 0.8.1 10/08/2011
- added "about this program" dialog 

hstzaar 0.8 30/06/2011
- fixed crash on clicking Cancel button of file dialogs
- fixed incorrect behaviour of AI Level 2 (wrong comparison)
- added a command-line option to specify glade data directory
- fused game and history references in GUI code;
  should reduce the number of screen redraw events

hstzaar 0.7 17/06/2011
- improved AI: 
  level 0 does material evaluation only
  levels >1 does material, positional and threats
  level 2 searches deeper after mid-game
- removed random AI (AI/Lame.hs)
- implemented save & open games
- restructured GUI code: 
  undo/redo history handling is now a separate module

hstzaar 0.6 04/05/2011
- improved AI by spliting turns into 2 game tree levels
- reduced heap memory residency
- removed AIs; minimax ply 2 is now faster and better than old greedy
- improved GUI to highlight opponents & next available moves

hstzaar 0.5    29/03/2011
- corrected error in minimax algorithm that made it worse than the greedy strategy
- modified static evaluation function
- improved data structures for board representation to reduce memory footprint

hstzaar 0.4	22/10/2010
- zoneOfControl computation now properly accounts for interleaved captures 
- improved some board and AI functions for speed/accurary
- added an AI vs. AI tournament batch mode 
- added a test module with Quickcheck properties for board & AI code

hstzaar 0.3      21/08/2010
- improved the AI (new static evaluation function)
- corrected duplicate undo/redo entry after game end

hstzaar 0.2      16/08/2010
- fixed build error for missing module

hstzaar 0.1      11/08/2010

- Switched the GUI interface to gtk2hs+cairo
- Added AI strategies using minimax and alpha-beta prunning
- Renamed the package to take up maintenance of this.

Pedro Vasconcelos <pbv@dcc.fc.up.pt>

htzaar 0.0.2    10/09/09

- Added other modules to htzaar.cabal.
- Added strategy helpers to AI.Utils (boardHeuristic, pruneBoardTree).

htzaar 0.0.1    10/07/09

- Fixed first turn caveat.


htzaar 0.0.0    10/07/09

- Initial release.