X-Git-Url: http://winboard.nl/cgi-bin?a=blobdiff_plain;f=FAQ.html;h=74435a1db4147d7475c6e986dae78319d5973f39;hb=84f5fb6b9383e608570b90f6acc12f96d2781979;hp=9f1feef7132e6b4fcbc01c010772410cf4712348;hpb=b8ccc2d03263c833777a7c055a372501b40bc7ce;p=xboard.git diff --git a/FAQ.html b/FAQ.html index 9f1feef..74435a1 100644 --- a/FAQ.html +++ b/FAQ.html @@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ the Web through the page "http://www.tim-mann.org/chess.html" >http://www.tim-mann.org/chess.html. +This FAQ is in need of revision. Please contact us if you'd like +to help update it. +

Outline

@@ -191,12 +194,13 @@ not work on Windows CE (also known as Pocket PC), nor does it work on

[A.2] Where can I get chess information and chess software?

-As a shortcut to most things mentioned in this FAQ, try my Chess Web page, -http://www.tim-mann.org/chess.html. -My Web page is the best place to get the latest versions of XBoard and WinBoard -and the most up-to-date version of this FAQ. +As a shortcut to most things mentioned in this FAQ, try Tim Mann's +Chess Web page, http://www.tim-mann.org/chess.html. This page page is a good +place to get the latest released versions of XBoard and WinBoard and +the most up-to-date version of this FAQ. Also see our Savannah +project pages at https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/xboard/.

If you have other questions about XBoard/WinBoard that aren't answered in this FAQ, you can try Aaron Tay's WinBoard and Chess Engines FAQ, at @@ -265,21 +269,25 @@ At this writing, the current version numbers are:


[A.4] Who is working on this project?

-Tim Mann maintains this FAQ and is the lead developer on XBoard and -WinBoard, but he has little time to work on the project. Many others -occasionally contribute suggestions and snippets of code, for which we -are grateful. +Please see our Savannah project pages at https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/xboard/ for a list of active +developers. Many others occasionally contribute suggestions and +snippets of code, for which we are grateful.

[A.5] How do I report bugs, offer help, etc.?

-

At present, bug reports, suggestions, and offers to help on XBoard -or WinBoard should be sent directly to -tim@tim-mann.org (Tim Mann). -Beginner questions and discussion about the program may get faster +

Bug reports, suggestions, and offers to help on XBoard +or WinBoard should be sent to +bug-xboard@gnu.org. + +

Beginner questions and discussion about the program may get faster answers on the WinBoard Forum at http://f11.parsimony.net/forum16635/. If you are developing a +>http://f11.parsimony.net/forum16635/. + +

If you are developing a chess engine that works with XBoard or WinBoard (or an alternative GUI that works with such engines), see the Chess Engines mailing list, hosted at @@ -314,57 +322,50 @@ are very meaningful to us and essential for diagnosing problems.

[A.6] What are the future plans for XBoard and WinBoard?

-

There are no firm plans. As with most free software projects, the -next release will happen when it happens -- or it may never happen. -This has always been the policy for XBoard/WinBoard. Releases have -never been promised in specific time frames. +

Our plans are always in flux. As with most free software projects, +the next release will happen when it happens -- or it may never +happen. This has always been the policy for XBoard/WinBoard. +Releases have never been promised in specific time frames. -

Currently, there are few developments in the pipeline, they have -not gotten far, and they are moving along very slowly, if at all. -This is mainly because I no longer enjoy working on the project. I -have many other things to do that are more important, more fun, or -both, and they more than fill my waking hours. If another qualified -programmer would like to take over the project, I'd welcome that. -Please contact me if you're interested. +

Starting in November 2003, several new developers have joined the +project, and work is now hosted at https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/xboard/. Lots of work is just +getting underway, but nothing is far along yet. -

That said, here are some items that have a nonzero probability of -happening in finite time. Most of the probabilities are actually -pretty small. +

Here is a partial list of items that have a nonzero probability of +happening in finite time.

- -

There is nothing else in the works. +mailing list discussed a set of proposed features for the next version +of the XBoard/WinBoard chess engine communication protocol. +Unfortunately, this project has gotten only as far as that discussion +took it; no revisions of the protocol spec or coding have been done +yet. A few simple features are very clearly needed, though, and will +probably appear in time.

+ +

  • Contributed features. Several people have mailed me code to add +various features. Most of this code is available on the +XBoard/WinBoard extensions page at http://www.tim-mann.org/extensions.html, but it is not in any +official releases yet. We are in the process of getting folks to +formally assign the copyrights on their contributions to the Free +Software Foundation so that we can include it in official releases in +the future.

    + +

  • Internationalization. Several people have expressed interest in +internationalizing XBoard/WinBoard, and so hopefully this project will +go forward. Once the internationalization support is in, we will need +more translators. Watch for news on the xboard-devel mailing list on +our Savannah pages. + +

    [B] XBoard and WinBoard

    @@ -462,21 +463,21 @@ AmyBoard is available in the Internet Chess Library (topic [A.2

    [B.4] Is there an XBoard for the Macintosh?

    -Because MacOS X has a Unix base, XBoard will compile and run on it. -You do need an X11 (X Window System) server and client libraries. -These do not come with Mac OS, but both free and commercial versions -are available. Once you install the X11 package, XBoard is reported -to compile and run without changes. I am not a Mac user and have not -tried this myself, so I cannot answer questions about it. - -Version 4.2.6 and earlier of XBoard come with an old copy of the -config.sub utility that does not recognize Mac OS X, so to build -XBoard, you'll have to tell the configure program what OS you are -running. Follow the instructions in topic [B.7] -of this FAQ, but add the argument --host=powerpc-apple-bsd to -the end of the "configure" command line. - -There is no version of XBoard or WinBoard that runs with the native +Note: I am not a Mac user and have not tried this myself, so I cannot +answer questions about it. + +

    Because MacOS X has a Unix base, XBoard will compile and run on it. +You do need an X11 (X Window System) server and client libraries. I'm +told that these come standard with MacOS X 10.3 and later. Once you +install the X11 package, XBoard is reported to compile and run without +changes. + +

    You can avoid having to compile XBoard (and GNU Chess) yourself by +using the Fink sofware packaging system. See +http://fink.sourceforge.net/ and +http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net/ for more info on Fink. + +

    There is no version of XBoard or WinBoard that runs with the native (non-X11) Mac graphical interface, and none that runs on MacOS 9 or earlier. @@ -486,11 +487,8 @@ earlier. No. This port would probably be a lot easier than the Win32 and Amiga ports were, because VMS has the X Window system (under the name -DECwindows) and is now POSIX compliant. However, I don't know enough -about VMS to do the port myself, and I don't have time. If you do, -give it a try! Send mail to me, -tim@tim-mann.org (Tim Mann), if you're -working on this. +DECwindows) and is now POSIX compliant. If you are working on this, +send mail to bug-xboard@gnu.org to let us know.


    [B.6] What is cmail?

    @@ -1435,7 +1433,8 @@ Software Foundation, www.fsf.org.

    After connecting to a chess server, XBoard 4.0.2 and later sends an escape sequence to its terminal that is meant to display your handle -and the ICS host name (for example, "user@chessclub.com") in the +and the ICS host name (for example, +"user@chessclub.com") in the terminal's banner and icon. It seems that several of the alternative X terminal programs have a bug that makes them hang when sent this escape sequence. @@ -1607,7 +1606,8 @@ network. It runs only under Microsoft Windows. Some of the code in Winsock Chess is derived from GNU Chess, but it is not maintained by the GNU Chess team. You can get a copy from the Internet Chess Library; see topic [A.2]. For more information, -contact its author, Donald Munro, ccahdm@beluga.upe.ac.za. +contact its author, Donald Munro, +ccahdm@beluga.upe.ac.za.


    [D.3] What is Crafty?

    @@ -1625,7 +1625,8 @@ reading it. Among other things, this file contains instructions on how to install Crafty as a command-line application on your machine.

    There is a Crafty mailing list. -To subscribe, send email to majordomo@cis.uab.edu, with +To subscribe, send email to +majordomo@cis.uab.edu, with "subscribe crafty-list" in the body.