Author: Tim Mann
Date: 18:39:18 02/12/00
Go up one level in this thread
On February 11, 2000 at 21:24:08, Vincent Vega wrote:
>On February 11, 2000 at 20:41:59, Albert Silver wrote:
>
>>That isn't very constructive criticism. It isn't that I disagree or not, but
>>could you provide some clearer examples of what you mean?
>
>Each interface has tons of problems. DOS interfaces are beyond hope so I won't
>even comment on them. Look at Winboard which is one of the better ones for
>example: horrible time controls - why can't I change the time during the game,
>why can't I click on the clock and just enter new time, why can't I specify
>different time for each side, why can't I take the move back and make another
>move without additional commands, why can't I change engines in the middle of
>the game, where is the opening name, why aren't impossible actions greyed out
>(load next game, etc.), why are menus used for everything, why is show thinking
>truncated, why can't I click on a move in analyze mode to make it, why can't
>importing recognize and correct errors, what's with only right-clicking to edit
>position, why is specifying whose move it is so bad, why can I drag a figure
>that can't move, why no context-sensitive help, why can't I easily switch >sides, I could go on forever.
The answer to most of these questions is "because WinBoard is a free program
that Tim wrote for fun in his spare time, and he didn't get around to doing
that." For a few the answer is that GNU Chess (originally the only engine
supported) has problems doing those things. For a few the answer is that I
don't see what's wrong ("menus used for everything") or what you think should
be done instead.
It seems pretty ridiculous for you to lump WinBoard together with the GUIs
on commercial chess programs. If I took your attitude, that I wouldn't do
anything unless money was paid, then WinBoard wouldn't be better -- instead,
it wouldn't exist at all. I would not be interested in doing WinBoard
as a regular job. Certainly if I did, I could spend full time polishing it
instead of just a few hours now and then, and perhaps bring it up to your
standards, but that doesn't interest me. I prefer what I do for a living now.
--Tim
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