Picochess (V3) image with Stockfish 15

Stockfish 15.0 was released 4-18-22; Here's a flash image for the DGT Pi.  Credit goes to Scally (Al Cooper) for compiling the SF 15 engine and making it available for the DGT Pi.

This image also has the latest Texel 1.08a18 engine and is running Raspian 11 (Bullseye). Also, note the DGT Pi version 3 has about 40 engines on it including Rodent IV.

As always, use at your own risk and I suggest flashing a separate Micro SD Card and keeping your current image safe. - Read the "Readme.txt" file before flashing. Additionally, the only official release of Picochess is .9l available from the DGT Website. 

I call this my "personal image" for the following reasons

1) I removed the /Manuals folder from the picochess directory to give me more space on the 8GB card. The manuals were taking about 1GB of it. Also removed the /Test folder.
2) It contains the latest Texel 1.08a18 engine (July 2020)
3) It contains the latest Stockfish 15 and Stockfish 15 Neural Network (NNUE) engines
4) It has the Samba App installed, so you can access the Linux system from your Windows network by typing in the IP address. User: pi;  Password: picochess
IP address should be in your list of attached devices on your router info.

(5) Uses the latest release of Raspberry Pi OS (Bullseye/Raspian 11)

I'm running this on a Raspberry Pi 3b+, most DGT Pi's have a Raspberry Pi 3 installed. Untested on that device, but you should be okay. It will NOT run on a Raspberry Pi 4b.

PicoLiteV3_SF15_02.zip

Here's my YouTube video on how to flash a new image: https://youtu.be/TvWe5PEj-0o

Here's a link to a YouTube video of me playing the new Stockfish 15 engine on my DGT Pi:  https://youtu.be/d9jwO_jOY10

I removed my Bluetooth connection information from BlueZ and emptied the /var/lib/bluetooth folder and replaced the board.py (the Python file responsible for connecting the Bluetooth board) with the file that currently exists in the "official" version Picochess Version 3.

Give it another try...   

I was able to initially connect (by Bluetooth) from a fresh install in about 2 minutes; much faster on the second connect. 

Download zip file name should be PicoV3_SF15_02.zip 

Use the link four posts up from this one. 

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Alternately, if you want to try navigating the Linux file structure. We can manually connect you with BlueZ the first time (it's actually pretty simple to do this). 

I have SSH enabled in this image, it's basically just entering in the IP address of your Pi into Powershell and logging in. - Example    ssh pi@192.168.1.xx  password: picochess

However, you may have to install OpenSSH on your PC (See picture). Connect your Pi to your PC by either BlueTooth or with an EJ45 Ethernet cable between your Pi and Router. 

Then we issue the command: 1) sudo bluetoothctl 2) scan on 3) pair <Your MAC address of your board> 4) answer 'yes' to the passkey prompt 5) quit  6) sudo reboot

Your IP address of your Pi is available in the menu of your DGT Pi under "Info" or you can get it from your router listings of attached devices

Your MAC address of your board will show up with you turn "Scan on" in bluetoothctl.  It lists it as DGT...

... things use to be a lot simplier until BlueZ 5.0/55 modifications because there isn't as much information to gleam (easily) as with past versions.  In the past you could just read the output from BlueZ (with code) and now it omits some information either intentionally or it's a bug. 

Excellent; Scally and I were working (him working, me testing) on some functionality improvements this morning to this image, so I may be dropping another one soon.

This is an example of the replay pgn functionality :https://youtu.be/dzHgXx22MhU

From memory; You set the pieces on the board than select the Pi menu option "Scan Position". 

Yeah, anytime you find yourself using the Pi's menu, things ain't easy :-)

Here's another updated image (4/23/22; truncated on 4/27) that has the Replay PGN, engine option. I tested the Micro SD Card after I created the image on my Bluetooth e-Board and it seemed good. Fast BT connect, the new versions of the engines working and the replay pgn working.

PicoLiteV3_SF15_02.zip

hi, how do you tell which raspberry pi version you DGT Pi has?

Thanks

Watch the menu display on boot up. I suspect yours will show .9L (Stockfish 8 and Raspian 7 OS). I dropped a a flash image a few days ago (3 posts up) that has Raspian 11 and Stockfish 15. 

Thanks, but you say your raspberry pi version is 3b+ and most Pi's have version 3. How do you tell if you have 3b, 3 or 4. Find that a bit confusing. On start up my DGT Pi says 0.9l. 

Thanks again.

If you are running .9l you are most likely running a 3.  It's takes some configuration changes to run .9l on a 3b+.  Besides opening up and looking at the motherboard, you can issue the Linux command from the terminal and type: cat /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/model.

I know I'm running 3b+ because I exchanged it out with a 3.  I have a 4b+ but I haven't tried running Picochess on it, I believe some people have, but the 4b won't fit inside the DGT Pi case.  I don't see DGT making any changes to the DGT Pi in the immediate future since the manufacture of 3's have priority over 3b's. 

Thanks for the clarification.

Hi, I've tried to put this image on a sd card. I get an error saying that there is not enough space. It tells me it needs 7.9 gb, disk utility shows i have 7.89. I'm using raspberry pi imager. Any ideas please? I've tried a couple of different 8gb cards both with the same result. i didn't buy bigger cards incase the pi couldn't handle it.

thanks

Yes, cards vary in their capacities depending on the manufacturer and I've run into this issue myself with using 32gb cards.  Your Pi will definitely use larger cards, however since you've already sourced these, I'm going to try to truncate the image just a bit so it will load on your card. I'll add to this message when it's complete.

You're a star. Thanks. It's only a tiny amount too. Cheers!

Truncating the image: Running both Linux and Windows to do this. Pi 4b (in back of small screen) and the Raspberry Pi Desktop displayed on the 10" monitor. Actual file is on the 500gb SSD drive (blue) that I mount on the 4b, however here, attached to the PC and burning the truncated image.  7GB files aren't much fun to play with on any OS. 

Size of _01 versus size of _02

I've got it truncated... It's good - I'll upload the image.

However, the actual "official" copy of Pico was updated a few days ago to Picochess Groups and it has SF15 on it. Has all the functionality of my image, just a lower version of Texel engine (1.08a08).

It will fit on your card, so in the mean time you can try this image. Ignore the "Can't Preview" and hit the download button.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13m_5F3Gks1c5EiEvcWqOmX2Y8BZhj5Cm/view

I was able truncate this image about 1/2 GB, since it has a gigabyte of unused space at the end of the file (see image a few posts up). It should now fit on your 8gb card.

PicoLiteV3_SF15_02.zip

Thanks so much. I downloaded the official version and it works like a charm. It all went very smoothly. Need to work it out. It gives me hints when I haven’t asked for them. That was in rodent 4.

Now you have 40 engines; I turned both the tutor and coach function OFF using the Pi menu. Too distracting and overly critical IMHO. I have enough people try to taunt me during online matches, I don't need the Pi doing it also (e.g., try the GranDos voice, she's just plain nasty :-)

Also, some commenting has minor swearing in it. I don't know why they did that.  

We need to get you into Linux. You can set all the Rodent IV personalities to play at a certain Elo by running a .bash file. They are playing at their highest level by default. However current functionality allows you can select to play 800-2000 levels as a "personality" from Rodents "Level" choices. 

Honestly, PIcochess version 3 was sort of built for "power" users where there was some expectation that the users would be tweaking the Picochess App on the Linux system. However, it should run fine with the default setup. 

For example, there is no way to changed the "Favorites" menu option with the menu. However, you can do it easily within the picochess directory. I have Stockfish, Texel, Rodent IV and Replay PGN as my only "Favorites".  

For a second example, you can set the thresholds on how critical the coach is for blunders, bad moves, questionable moves etc. but you have to directly edit the picotutor_constants.py (Python) file. 

I made a new post that gives a 3-minute tour of accessing the Pico app on your Pi.

You get a hint when you lift a piece and put it down in the same position.

I decided no longer distribute my personal version of the Picochess V3 image.

The Picochess image, with Stockfish 15 is still available as a download from the Google Groups - Picochess.