Backend repository for a modular chess engine platform with REST and UCI adapters.

• engine-core: pure Java chess domain and move-generation engine.
• chess-engine-api: Spring Boot REST adapter used by the UI.
• engine-uci: UCI runner module.

• Full reactor build/test: mvnw clean test passes.
• engine-core test suite includes:
  • legality tests,
  • draw-rule tests,
  • perft reference tests,
  • make/unmake determinism and Zobrist restoration tests,
  • evaluator regression and symmetry tests.
• Phase 4 SPRT result versus Phase 3 baseline:
  • SPRT: llr 2.97 (101.0%), lbound -2.94, ubound 2.94 - H1 was accepted
  • Elo difference: +185.7 +/- 54.2, LOS: 100.0%, DrawRatio: 28.6%

Perft references currently covered in tests:

• Start position: depth 1..5.
• Kiwipete (Position 2): depth 1..3.
• CPW Position 3: depth 1..5.
• CPW Position 4: depth 1..4.
• CPW Position 5: depth 1..4.

From repo root (chess-engine):

./mvnw clean test

Windows PowerShell:

.\mvnw.cmd clean test

Run only core tests:

.\mvnw.cmd -pl engine-core test

Run perft harness gate only:

.\mvnw.cmd -pl engine-core -Dtest=PerftHarnessTest test

Run tactical mate suite benchmark (>= 80% expected):

.\mvnw.cmd --% -pl engine-core -Dtest=TacticalSuiteTest -Dtactical.enabled=true -Dtactical.movetime.ms=2000 -Dtactical.min.pass.rate=0.80 -Dtactical.expected.positions=50 test

Alternative (depth-limited instead of movetime):

.\mvnw.cmd --% -pl engine-core -Dtest=TacticalSuiteTest -Dtactical.enabled=true -Dtactical.depth=5 -Dtactical.min.pass.rate=0.80 -Dtactical.expected.positions=50 test

Default bundled suite path:

• engine-core/src/test/resources/tactical/mate_2_3_50.epd

You can play Vex either through a chess GUI (Cute Chess) using UCI, or through your web UI (chess-engine-ui) backed by the REST API.

1. Build the backend modules:

.\mvnw.cmd clean install -DskipTests

2. Add the UCI engine in Cute Chess:

• Open Cute Chess.
• Go to engine management and add a new UCI engine.
• Engine command:

java -jar <absolute-path-to>\engine-uci\target\engine-uci-0.0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar

3. Start a game:

• Create a new game with Vex as one side.
• Set time control as desired (for example, 10+0.1).

4. Optional: run automated matches from repo root:

tools\match.bat <new-engine.jar> <old-engine.jar> 100 "tc=10+0.1"

5. Optional: run SPRT patch validation:

tools\sprt.bat <new-engine.jar> <old-engine.jar>

Generated PGNs are written under tools/results/.

1. Start backend API (chess-engine-api) from the backend repo root:

.\mvnw.cmd -pl chess-engine-api spring-boot:run

2. In a separate terminal, start the UI from chess-engine-ui:

npm install
npm start

3. Open the local UI URL shown by React (typically http://localhost:3000).

4. Ensure the UI API base URL points to your backend (commonly http://localhost:8080).

If your UI supports side/orientation selection, choose your side and start playing.

• Session-aware gameplay via optional gameId support.
• New game reset endpoint:
  • PUT /engine/new-game