Author: José Carlos
Date: 08:57:10 05/16/01
Go up one level in this thread
On May 16, 2001 at 06:53:29, Frank Quisinsky wrote:
>Hi there,
>
>the first engine concept is WinBoard with now I think over 130 compatible
>engines (available, not available).
>
>After WinBoard we have the strong commercial Chess-Base concept with a lot of
>top engines.
>
>And we have UCI by Stefan Meyer Kahlen, at the moment 8 programs are available,
>more comming soon (Engine Edition, in this case ... third CD of Gambit-Soft ...
>a better name as WinBoard Edition). I think in 1 year we have 30-50 UCI engines
>because UCI is very interesting and free.
Don't mix things. UCI is a _free protocol_ but there's no _free GUI_. You have
to pay for it. It's a very important difference with Winboard.
>I cannt see other ideas with engine concepts.
>And I think 2 strong commercial concepts are enough.
As with the "news-ticker issue", you're all the time trying to have a little
number of anything. Two protocols ('protocols', Frank, not 'concepts') are
enough? So if I want to write my own protocol for my engine, I can't? Just
because you say so?
Be serious, Frank. Diversity is good. Diverstity of "news-tickers" means
different points of view for the same new. Diversity of protocols means that
people can join the one the like best.
Ok, it's good to have adapters between protocols. But adapters that work just
fine, not like chessbase's joke.
Don't limit diversity, please. Let anyone chose what they prefer. If most
people like a certain protocol (I think this is the case of winboard, which I
like best too), the other ones would die or get better or get compatible or
whatever.
>I think it is good if we have a little bit contra against Chess-Base. Good for
>the market and the next years. Also if Chess-Base have a little bit contra we
>have the possibilty to get more programs ... more engines ... and have more fun
>with computer chess.
Personally I don't like chessbase, but I don't consider 'fair play' to ask
anyone to act against them. It's just my choice not to make my engine chessbase
compatible, but the other programers can do what the want. Not my problem.
>This is my private opinion but I have also the idea that all programs compatible
>to all GUIs. The best way for user.
Indeed. I totally agree here. Compatibility is good for the user, no doubt.
>Now, what is right ?
>A important questions for the future.
>
>Have all programmers interest to make a Engine for Chess-Base ?
Not in my case.
>Have programmers interest to make a Engine for the free WinBoard concept ?
Personally, I support winboard as it's free and very good IMO.
>Have programmers interest to see a little bit commercial contra ?
For me, as an amateur in this field, I don't have enemies here, commercial or
not commercial. So no 'contra' from me.
>Have programmers interest to make a engine for a good GUI for users ?
Winboard is a good GUI, isn't it?
>Have programmers interest to make in the next years only free versions, no
>market or a market from one firm ?
Think a bit about it. If you can give somenthing for free or earn some money
from it, what will you do? The fact is that most amateurs don't have time to
make a good enough product to be sold. So it's not a choice for _most_ (I know
there's Bob, and someone else). If I could get money from _all my programs_, I'd
do. But I work for 12 to 13 hours a day in my company. That's where I get the
money from, actually.
>What have we all to do ?
>
>We must make 5 new engine concepts for make a little bit commercial contra ?
>We must work all hand in hand ...
I really don't understand what you mean here.
>And I mean we must work hand in hand with "Chess-Base ... the best ideas, the
>best products, the best software" and must work hand in hand with a second idea.
I really don't understand what you mean here.
>So I have interest to powerd UCI because the GUI from Stefan is very good.
Again, don't forget there does not exist a free GUI that supports UCI. UCI
free engines are useless for me, as I don't want to buy Shredder. Winboard _is
free_ (protocol and GUI).
>Best
>Frank
José C.
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