Re: [gnugo-devel] Go on Linux

[aquarius]

Am Sun, 07 Dec 2003 21:02:15 -0500 schrieb Ezra Mound <address@hidden>:

> Hi,
> I really appreciate your effort on your page at
> http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/gnugo.html
> I was lost, though, as to where to go for what I want, and I thought you
> may be able to help. If not, no big deal. I run Redhat 9 and just wanted
> to play against a computer on my local machine. I was wondering if there
> were any free/open source programs to do that. I'm sure there are, and
> they are probably staring at me on that page, but I was having a hard
> time distinguishing clents from Go engines... and knowing what to pick.
> I know I sound like an idiot, but thanks anyway,
> Ezra

Hi Ezra,

I can perfectly understand you, as there is a whole bunch of combinations
you can choose from. Gnu Go for itself is a very good free GPL Go engine
with a simple ascii interface plus GMP-Interface (common to most engines)
plus GTP-Interface (much better, "human-readable", but not so common right
now in free/commercial Go engines). So you will pick a client for graphics.

For a quick start with Gnu Go on linux just follow the directions on the page
you cited and http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/gnugo_4.html#SEC26
In short: choose from one of the recommended X11- or Java-Clients or read on :-)

Speaking of clients and programs for server play (over the net, with real 
people)
you must know that many programs can do both but that need not bother you - just
remember to invoke gnugo with parameter "--mode gtp" if you want to use the 
modern
GTP protocol and if the client supports it. Also note that some clients have 
binary
releases for certain OSes/Distros that come packaged with a (possibly old) 
version
of Gnu Go that you might want to replace.

(Does anyone know of a gnugo rpm for redhad 9? Anyway: compiling Gnu Go is easy 
;-)

My favorite client is GoGui http://sourceforge.net/projects/gogui/ because it's 
java
(so I can use it on other OSes too) and it has many features to "explore" Gnu 
Go's
internals through advanced GTP commands. There is also a client written in 
Ruby, but
that seem to be the main alternatives when it comes to programming languages.

If you go for Cgoban1 (X11) please don't mistake it for Cgoban2 which is 
closed-source,
java, aimed at playing on the KGS Go Server against real people and not (jet) 
capable
of playing against any local Go engine.

When it comes to Go engines Gnu Go is definitely the best one that meets your 
criteria.
The other free engines are all weaker and only recommended for handhelds etc. 
or as an
"example" for writing a (simple?) Go program. If you want to try them out just 
match them
with a client supporting their protocol and let them play against Gnu Go ;-)

Hope that helps
happy Go - ing
   aquarius


P.S. as http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/gnugo.html seems to be one of the most
     comprehensive collections of free and GPLed Go related programs it would be
     superb to have a cross-table on the purposes, features and platforms of the
     various programs and how well they are suited to be combined with Gnu GO.
     (but that's just me dreaming ...)