Sen:te Goban update ?

[Bonobo]

NOW IT WORKS

After a reboot (no idea whether that was the reason) I tried again, to no avail.

Then I re-downloaded the Extensions DMG (no idea whether they changed something) and then Goban 4 works. Just played a 9x9 game against GnuGo and lost by 5 points.

<edit>

Updated my Appstore review, BTW, and heaved it up from one star to three, for the time being.

</edit>

[Tim C Koppang]

Are there any changes/improvements? In other words, if I have the previous (free) version, is it worth the $10 to upgrade?

[fireproof]

I've upgraded and it's doing a bit better with commented SGF files (from SmartGo Kifu, KGS, and a Windows editor, for what its worth), but still crashes -- when saving some game files from other apps, for example. The developer seems interested in fixing it, but for now I don't see much reason to recommend upgrading.

[Mage]

I can no longer see any comments in the SGF files Anyone else having this issue ?

[fireproof]

I can no longer see any comments in the SGF files Anyone else having this issue ?

I can see the comments just fine -- but you may want to remove all Sen:te Goban related preferences from your ~/Library/Preferences folder and restart the app.

That's what I did, and now the app is solid; no crashes, it opens every SGF I throw at it, and everything just works. The developer was very good about keeping in contact and following up on the trouble I reported earlier. The last thing on my wishlist is multi-game SGF files.

[Tim C Koppang]

Does the new version handle Chinese counting? In the previous version that I have there is a pull-down menu to change the ruleset, but the only option is Japanese. Has anything else been added?

[Bonobo]

I can no longer see any comments in the SGF files Anyone else having this issue ?

At first I also thought they were gone, but they are in the info panel -> “positions”, just press cmd+5.

HTH, Tom

[hyperpape]

I believe the FSF takes the position that GPL'd software cannot be distributed on the app store (http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance).

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_App_Store#Regulations

[Bonobo]

I believe the FSF takes the position that GPL'd software cannot be distributed on the app store (http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance).

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_App_Store#Regulations

Yes, that’s the reason why GnuGo and NNGS are not included in the AppStore distribution and have to be downloaded extra and installed as an extension.

[marco]

Hello,

I am a member of Sente, the authors of Goban, http://www.sente.ch/goban/ .

An update (4.2) has just been released. In addition to several bug fixes it now includes the ability to play against Pachi, a much stronger opponent than GNU Go.

To do so the Goban Extensions package needs to be reinstalled.

As some have already commented this package is necessary because the GPL is not compatible with App Store distribution. (Users should be able to freely update or modify their software, which cannot be done for apps that are signed to be distributed on the Mac App Store.)

We will keep on improving Goban, we have many ideas for that.

[pleiade67]

Hello,

I would suggest to implement the GTP protocol, in addition to your packages which are easy to install. This would give access to a wealth of different level GTP engines freely available (mogo, Fuego, Orego, neurogo, pachi, several versions of gnugo, amigo, go169, etc.), even if the installation of GTP engines is a little more involved.

http://ricoh51.free.fr/go/engineeng.htm

[marco]

You can already add GTP and GMP players to Goban. Just specify the path to the executable and the arguments in the two text fields.

[Bonobo]

You can already add GTP and GMP players to Goban. Just specify the path to the executable and the arguments in the two text fields.

Uhm, WOT?



OK, nice, but not exactly what a user of OS X would expect to have to do. Did I miss any How-To’s and links for all that on the sente.ch site?

Anyway, I’m happy you guys have finally continued to work on Goban!


Herzliche Grüße aus Norddeutschland, Tom

[marco]

You can already add GTP and GMP players to Goban. Just specify the path to the executable and the arguments in the two text fields.

Uhm, WOT?

OK, nice, but not exactly what a user of OS X would expect to have to do.

What would you expect to do? In the Players preference you create a New GTP program, give it a name and set the executable path and the arguments you want to use.

Were thinking that anybody that can compile a GTP go playing program can figure it out. Also seems like the only way to provide a general and flexible way to add any go playing program.

Did I miss any How-To’s and links for all that on the sente.ch site?

No you did not miss much, there is no documentation at this time. We may start a FAQ if we get FQs. Thanks!

[pleiade67]

Marco,

This is really a nice feature (it is actually listed among the features on the web page of the app). Would indeed be nice to document it.

To Bonobo: I think this feature is a nice plus for more "experienced" users, in addition to the "easy to install" packages (by experienced I mean in software development not necessarily in go ! ). It is unfortunately true that Mac compiled GTP engines are not common. Compiling the sources is not always straightforward, but I really appreciate this to be available. Fuego 1.1 compiled for Mac OS X works for instance, and is a pretty strong opponent (same source as "little go" on ipad). There are more windows exe GTP engine available. I had a try using wine to plug a win binary engine in Goban, but did not work (works under gogui).

Anyway nice app.