Guide to Implementing node tlcv for Chess Engine Tournament

Table of Contents

Comprehensive Guide to Implementing node-tlcv for Chess Engine Tournament Broadcasting on Windows and Hostinger

Introduction: Understanding TLCS, Node.js, and node-tlcv

Tom’s Live Chess Server (TLCS) constitutes a specialised protocol for broadcasting chess games in real-time, originally developed for the competitive computer chess community. This TCP-based system enables engines like Stockfish or Leela Chess Zero to transmit move data, game states, and analysis to spectators globally. The protocol’s lightweight design prioritises low-latency communication essential for high-level engine tournaments where millisecond precision matters.

Node.js revolutionises server-side development through its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. Built upon Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, it allows developers to create scalable network applications using JavaScript. Unlike traditional web servers, Node.js excels at handling numerous simultaneous connections with minimal overhead – a critical advantage for real-time broadcasting systems.

node-tlcv emerges as a sophisticated Node.js implementation bridging TLCS broadcasts to web audiences. Created by developer Jhonnold, this open-source solution (hosted at github.com/jhonnold/node-tlcv) functions as a middleware server that:

Connects directly to TLCS sources
Retransmits game data via WebSockets
Provides an administrative dashboard
Supports multiple concurrent broadcasts
Translates proprietary TLCS messages into browser-friendly formats

For tournament organisers, node-tlcv eliminates the need for expensive proprietary broadcasting software. Its stateless architecture allows effortless scaling during high-traffic events like the Top Chess Engine Championship (TCEC). The solution’s compatibility with Windows servers – the dominant platform for chess engine execution – makes it particularly valuable for integrating engine tournaments with modern web platforms.

Requirements for node-tlcv Implementation

Core Prerequisites

TLCS Source: A live Tom’s Live Chess Server broadcasting games. Common sources include:
Arena Chess GUI (configured for LAN broadcasting)
ChessBase with TLCS module
Custom engine wrappers like cutechess-cli with TLCS output
Node.js Runtime: LTS version (v18.x recommended)
Windows Server Environment: Windows Server 2019/2022 or Windows 10/11 Pro
Network Configuration:
Open TCP port for TLCS (default: 16001)
Firewall access for node-tlcv’s web server (default: 8080)
Static IP assignment for hosting machine

Supplementary Tools

pm2 Process Manager: For background service management (npm install pm2 -g)
Web Browser: Chrome or Edge for admin panel access
Text Editor: VS Code or Notepad++ for configuration editing

Hosting Considerations

Minimum 2 vCPU cores and 4GB RAM for simultaneous broadcasts
SSD storage for reduced I/O latency during game transmission
10Mbps+ upload bandwidth per 100 concurrent viewers

Windows Setup and Configuration Walkthrough

1. Install Node.js

Download Windows installer from nodejs.org
Select “LTS” version during installation
Verify installation in Command Prompt:

  node --version
  npm --version

  node --version
  npm --version

2. Clone Repository

git clone https://github.com/jhonnold/node-tlcv.git
cd node-tlcv

git clone https://github.com/jhonnold/node-tlcv.git
cd node-tlcv

3. Configuration Setup

Create config/config.json:

  {
    "connections": ["tlcv-source.local:16001"],
    "port": 8080
  }

  {
    "connections": ["tlcv-source.local:16001"],
    "port": 8080
  }

Replace tlcv-source.local with hostname/IP of your TLCS server

4. Environment Variables
Create .env file in project root:

TLCV_PASSWORD=YourSecurePassword123!
ADMIN_USERNAME=custom_admin  # Optional

TLCV_PASSWORD=YourSecurePassword123!
ADMIN_USERNAME=custom_admin  # Optional

5. Network Configuration

Allow port 8080 through Windows Firewall:

  New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "node-tlcv" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8080 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow

  New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "node-tlcv" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8080 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow

Configure router port forwarding for public access

Compilation and Server Initialisation

Dependency Installation

npm install

npm install

Production Build

npm run build

npm run build

Execution Methods

Foreground Process (Debugging):

  node build/src/main.js

  node build/src/main.js

Background Service via pm2:

  pm2 start build/src/main.js --name "chess-broadcast"
  pm2 save
  pm2 startup  # Creates Windows service

  pm2 start build/src/main.js --name "chess-broadcast"
  pm2 save
  pm2 startup  # Creates Windows service

Verification Steps

Visit http://localhost:8080 – Should display connection page
Check TLCS source for active connections
Monitor console for heartbeat messages:
[INFO] Connected to tlcv-source.local:16001

Admin Panel Operations

Accessible at http://yourserver:8080/admin with credentials from .env

Dashboard Features

Connection Monitor: Real-time status of TLCS sources
Broadcast Control: Force disconnects/reconnects
Client Statistics: Viewer counts, geographic distribution
Log Viewer: Filterable event timeline

Critical Administration Tasks

Multiple Source Configuration:
Edit config.json to add additional TLCS streams:

   "connections": [
     "engine-tournament1.local:16001",
     "engine-tournament2.local:16002"
   ]

   "connections": [
     "engine-tournament1.local:16001",
     "engine-tournament2.local:16002"
   ]

Password Rotation:
Update .env and restart service:

   pm2 restart chess-broadcast

   pm2 restart chess-broadcast

Emergency Protocols:

Force Refresh Clients: Send SIGUSR2 signal via pm2
Message Broadcasting: Use /admin/messages for tournament announcements

WordPress Integration on Hostinger

Hostinger-Specific Configuration

In hPanel, navigate to Hosting → Manage → Databases
Create MySQL database for WordPress (if not existing)
Under Advanced → Cron Jobs, add:
*/5 * * * * curl http://localhost:8080/status > /dev/null 2>&1

Proxy Configuration via .htaccess
Add to WordPress root’s .htaccess before # BEGIN WordPress:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^broadcast/(.*)$ http://localhost:8080/$1 [P,L]
ProxyPass /broadcast http://localhost:8080
ProxyPassReverse /broadcast http://localhost:8080

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^broadcast/(.*)$ http://localhost:8080/$1 [P,L]
ProxyPass /broadcast http://localhost:8080
ProxyPassReverse /broadcast http://localhost:8080

Embedding Broadcasts in Pages

Create new WordPress page
Add HTML block with:

   <div id="chessboard" style="width: 600px; height: 600px"></div>
   <script src="/broadcast/client.js"></script>
   <script>
     const client = new TLCVClient('https://yourdomain.com/broadcast');
     client.start();
   </script>

   <div id="chessboard" style="width: 600px; height: 600px"></div>
   <script src="/broadcast/client.js"></script>
   <script>
     const client = new TLCVClient('https://yourdomain.com/broadcast');
     client.start();
   </script>

Security Hardening

Restrict admin panel access by IP:

  npm install express-ipfilter

  npm install express-ipfilter

Edit main.js to add:

  const ipfilter = require('express-ipfilter').IpFilter
  app.use('/admin', ipfilter(['your.ip.address'], {mode: 'allow'}))

  const ipfilter = require('express-ipfilter').IpFilter
  app.use('/admin', ipfilter(['your.ip.address'], {mode: 'allow'}))

Implement SSL via Hostinger’s SSL Manager with forced HTTPS redirection

Performance Optimisation Techniques

Windows-Specific Tuning

Network Stack Optimisation:

  Set-NetTCPSetting -SettingName InternetCustom -CongestionProvider Cubic
  Set-NetTCPSetting -SettingName InternetCustom -AutoTuningLevelLocal Normal

  Set-NetTCPSetting -SettingName InternetCustom -CongestionProvider Cubic
  Set-NetTCPSetting -SettingName InternetCustom -AutoTuningLevelLocal Normal

Process Priority Management:

  pm2 start build/src/main.js --name chess-broadcast --interpreter none --priority 1

  pm2 start build/src/main.js --name chess-broadcast --interpreter none --priority 1

Hostinger Resource Management

Caching Strategy: Install WP Rocket with custom exclusions for /broadcast/ paths
CDN Integration: Configure Cloudflare proxy with WebSocket support enabled
Database Optimisation: Use Hostinger’s Object Cache for MySQL acceleration

Troubleshooting Framework

Common TLCS Issues

Connection Timeouts:
Verify Windows Firewall isn’t blocking outbound port 16001
Data Desynchronisation:
Add to config.json:

  "heartbeatInterval": 30000,
  "reconnectDelay": 5000

  "heartbeatInterval": 30000,
  "reconnectDelay": 5000

WordPress Integration Errors

Mixed Content Warnings: Enforce HTTPS in wp-config.php:

  define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);
  $_SERVER['HTTPS'] = 'on';

  define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);
  $_SERVER['HTTPS'] = 'on';

WebSocket Failures: Verify proxy headers in .htaccess:

  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Upgrade} websocket [NC]
  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Connection} upgrade [NC]
  RewriteRule ^broadcast/(.*) ws://localhost:8080/$1 [P,L]

  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Upgrade} websocket [NC]
  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Connection} upgrade [NC]
  RewriteRule ^broadcast/(.*) ws://localhost:8080/$1 [P,L]

Conclusion and Strategic Recommendations

Implementing node-tlcv establishes a professional broadcasting infrastructure for chess engine tournaments at minimal cost. The solution’s integration with Windows-based chess environments eliminates traditional compatibility barriers, while its Node.js foundation ensures scalability during high-profile events. For tournament organisers, this technology stack provides three strategic advantages:

Cost Efficiency: Eliminates commercial broadcasting licenses
Technical Flexibility: Customisable through JavaScript ecosystem
Audience Expansion: Web-native delivery increases accessibility

Hostinger deployments require particular attention to resource allocation during elite engine matches like Stockfish vs. Leela Chess Zero. Implement load testing using Artillery.io before major events:

npm install -g artillery
artillery quick --count 100 -n 20 http://localhost:8080

npm install -g artillery
artillery quick --count 100 -n 20 http://localhost:8080

Future enhancements should explore GPU acceleration for neural network analysis visualisations and integration with chess databases like ChessBase. The open-source nature of node-tlcv invites community contributions – consider implementing PGN download functionality or real-time engine comparison metrics.

Bibliographical References

Jhonnold. (2023). node-tlcv: Tom’s Live Chess Viewer. GitHub Repository. https://github.com/jhonnold/node-tlcv
Node.js Foundation. (2023). Node.js v18 LTS Documentation. https://nodejs.org/docs/latest-v18.x/api/
Hostinger. (2023). hPanel Knowledge Base. https://support.hostinger.com/en/hpanel
Microsoft. (2023). Windows Server Networking Performance Tuning. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/networking/technologies
FIDE. (2022). Computer Chess Broadcasting Standards. Technical Report 2022-04.
Chess Engine Communication Protocol. (2020). TLCS Specification v1.2. http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/UCIProtocol.html

Note: Always verify configurations against the official node-tlcv repository for latest updates. Tournament organisers should conduct penetration testing before public deployment.

Jorge Ruiz Centelles

Filólogo y amante de la antropología social africana

SÍGUEME