# Install cheops with Homebrew, MacPorts CHEss OPponent Simulator. Version 1.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:cheops ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install cheops ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install cheops ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: games/cheops/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:cheops - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.3 - **Source summary:** CHEss OPponent Simulator - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - cheops (cli) - cheops (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.3 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://logological.org/cheops - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage CHEOPS, the CHEss OPponent Simulator, is a small command-line chess program and engine by Tristan Miller. It is niche, but official project pages provide enough release history to document it as a traditional Unix-style game package. ### Project history The official homepage says CHEOPS was conceived and written by Tristan Miller and describes it as a fully functional chess program supporting human-vs-human, human-vs-computer, and computer-vs-computer play. It uses a 64-square linear board representation, alpha-beta search, and a static evaluation function over material, mobility, and motif features. The NEWS file records an initial 1.0 release in November 2003, GNU-style packaging with configure script and man page in 1.1, compiler compatibility fixes in 1.2, and GPL-3.0 relicensing in 1.3. ### Adoption history The project is small, but the homepage documents source releases on GitHub and nothingisreal.com, openSUSE packages, and third-party Windows builds. The batch metadata lists Homebrew and MacPorts packaging. CHEOPS is therefore more of a preserved portable Unix game than a widely adopted chess engine ecosystem project. ### How it is used Users run cheops in a terminal, choose who controls each side, optionally adjust computer-opponent evaluation weights, and enter moves in coordinate notation such as g1f3. The man page documents commands for help, resigning, redisplaying the board, reversing the board, showing computer thinking, logging, saving, starting a new game, and quitting. The package builds with a standard configure script on Unix-like systems, matching the expectations of source-based package managers and ports collections. ### Why package nerds care CHEOPS is package-nerd significant mainly as a small, old-school Unix game package: source tarballs, configure and make, a section 6 man page, GPL licensing, and ports-package distribution. It also shows why package managers keep niche software alive: even a four-star chess program can remain installable decades after its first release when it follows conventional source distribution patterns. ### Timeline - 2003: CHEOPS 1.0 initial release. - 2003: CHEOPS 1.1 added GNU-style packaging, configure script, man page, and --help/--version. - 2015: CHEOPS 1.2 fixed compilation with modern GCC. - 2016: CHEOPS 1.3 released and relicensed under GPL-3.0. ### Related projects - GNU Chess, chesstool, and xboard are listed in the CHEOPS man page as related tools. - openSUSE packaging and MacPorts/Homebrew formulas are relevant distribution relatives for this kind of Unix game. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** cheops - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - cheops: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: games/cheops/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Game and emulation packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/game-emulation-tools/) - Matched game or emulation metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [xboard](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xboard/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, game, games. - [fairy-stockfish](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fairy-stockfish/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games. - [fairymax](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fairymax/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games. - [gnu-chess](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnu-chess/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games. - [lc0](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lc0/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games. - [polyglot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/polyglot/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games. - [stockfish](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/stockfish/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chess, cli, games. - [allureofthestars](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/allureofthestars/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, game, games. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/cheops.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/cheops.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph