Re: [Bug-gnubg] integration with gnubg

[Alexander Smirnov]

Sorry for top posting, but i think it's the case when it is acceptable. 
I've just found that I missed to add list's email to reply, and replied 
personally to Øystein. fixing that... Have a nice day!

Alexander Smirnov wrote:
> thanks for replying, Øystein
>
>
> > Alexander Smirnov wrote:
> >  
> > > Hello
> > >
> > > I wonder if it is possible to reuse gnubg engine in my application. I'm
> > > developing open source backgammon game for K Desktop Environment and
> > > looking for strong computer opponent. Looks like gnubg is the greatest
> > > opponent we have now! :-)
> > >     
> >
> > Cool! How far have you come in the progress? Is this a Qt interface or
> > an full integration with KDE?
> >
> > Do you have a source repository we can take a glance at?
> >   
> It uses KDE classes. I was thinking about pure Qt version, just in 
> order to get versions for Windows and Mac, but decided to postpone 
> that... KDE4  misses backgammon game. Kbackgammon, which was KDE3 
> game, is not maintained. So the decision is to fill this blank and 
> develop game for KDE.
>
> I'm going submit my code to kde/playground repository at the earliest 
> and will post a link here for you to get an idea.
>
> > > I do understand that I can easy get sources and start learning them.
> > > That's possible in open source world and that's really great! But 
> > > before
> > > doing so I'd like to ask help from you, gnubg developers. Could you
> > > please give me a pointers, where to look first, is there some API i can
> > > rely on, what's the best way to deal with the engine.
> > >     
> >
> > I rather think we should consider defining an common API and or protocol
> > for backgammon evaluations.
> >
> > Can you think of something? The absolutely basic functions such API
> > needs would be:
> > find_best_move()
> > evaluate_position()
> >
> > Then you probably need more for handling cube and stuff. You also need
> > some data structure to store the stuff like 'move', 'board', 'evaluation
> > settings' etc.
> >
> > Think about it for a while. A unified API or protocol whould be really
> > nice for the community. Just like winboard and UCI standards in chess.
> >   
> Aha... great idea. Then we will be able to separate that API to a 
> library and let everybody who needs gnubg engine link it.
>
> Unfortunately, I'm not able to say right now what functions I need, 
> because this is my first backgammon-related project, and i do not know 
> many details. I will try to write down list of functions which in my 
> opinion should be in and send it here for discussion. is it ok? :)