ChessEngine

ChessEngine is a modular chess application designed for playing and experimenting with chess. It includes a graphical user interface (GUI), a logic-based chessboard implementation using bitboards, and an evolving chess bot for computer play.

Features

• Chess GUI: A visually appealing interface for playing chess, built using SDL2 and SDL2_image.
• Chess Logic: Implements chess game mechanics using an efficient bitboard representation.
• Chess Bot: An AI player (under development) to play against the user.
• SOLID Principles: The project design adheres to SOLID principles for maintainable, scalable, and modular code.

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Project Structure

The project is organized into the following directories:

1. chessBoard

Contains the core logic of the chess game, utilizing bitboards for efficient representation and computation of moves. It includes:

• Move validation
• Game state management
• Board representation

2. chessGUI

Handles the graphical user interface for the chess game. Built using:

• SDL2: For rendering the chessboard and pieces.
• SDL2_image: For managing images of chess pieces.
• It includes a CMakeLists.txt file for building the GUI component.

3. chessBot

Currently under development, this module aims to provide an AI opponent that can play chess against the user. Future updates will include:

• Move selection algorithms (e.g., Minimax, Alpha-Beta pruning)
• Heuristic-based evaluation for positions

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Design Philosophy

This project adheres to the SOLID principles to ensure:

• Single Responsibility: Each module handles a distinct responsibility (e.g., GUI, logic, AI).
• Open/Closed: Components are designed to allow extension without modifying existing code.
• Liskov Substitution: Abstract interfaces are used to enable interchangeability between components.
• Interface Segregation: Components interact through minimal, role-specific interfaces.
• Dependency Inversion: High-level modules depend on abstractions, not low-level implementations.

By following these principles, the project aims to remain maintainable, scalable, and testable as it evolves.

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Requirements

To build and run ChessEngine, ensure the following dependencies are installed:

General

• CMake: For building the project.

GUI Requirements

• SDL2
• SDL2_image

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Building the Project

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/subarnasaikia/ChessEngine.git
   cd ChessEngine

2. Build the chessGUI module:

   cd chessGUI
   mkdir build
   cd build
   cmake ..
   make

3. Run the GUI executable:

   ./ChessGUI

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Usage

• Launch the GUI to start a new game.
• Play against a human opponent using the interface.
• Stay tuned for updates to include computer opponent functionality!

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Roadmap

• Complete implementation of chessBot to enable AI gameplay.
• Improve GUI visuals and responsiveness.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.