Hello and my first question

[leonhard.euler]

Hello all.

I am happy to find a place where people are talking about go and hopefully a place where I can discuss/learn/get my questions answered.

I'm not sure about where the best place to ask this question is...but: is there software that will analyze an image (a gif for example) of a real-life go game and determine (in terms of a 19x19 matrix) where the stones are so that I can easily transfer the image into a computer go client? That way I can save pictures of games in the middle and continue playing them, e.g. with the person, online. This seems so useful and obvious that someone probably already developed it -- but I can't seem to find it. Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks much.
Gabe

[Marcus]

Welcome!

I don't have an answer to your question, but it doesn't seem impossible. I couldn't find anything in a quick internet search, but keep looking, and let us know if you find anything!

[leonhard.euler]

Thanks for replying.

Here's are two easier/related questions.

1. How would you search for such software?
2. I've been looking around to find a Go client to use. Where are software questions discussed around here? I'm trying to decide what software I should be using and where and how to play online.

Thanks for the help!

[prokofiev]

Welcome!

I recall reading a post about such a program that someone was developing. I forget if the post was here or at the now defunct godiscussions.com (are posts there available?). Maybe someone else recalls it and/or who made the post? I don't recall if there was ever a finished program.

[Phelan]

Welcome!

I thought there were topics about it here already, but maybe only in (now defunct) GoDiscussions.
There are two programs that do what you want, although maybe not exactly the way you want it:
http://go-tracer.appspot.com/
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/cjb/image2sgf.html

There were a few projects trying to capture video into sgf, to record a game, but I'm not sure if there was one that continued...

[leonhard.euler]

Welcome!

I thought there were topics about it here already, but maybe only in (now defunct) GoDiscussions.
There are two programs that do what you want, although maybe not exactly the way you want it:
http://go-tracer.appspot.com/
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/cjb/image2sgf.html

There were a few projects trying to capture video into sgf, to record a game, but I'm not sure if there was one that continued...

This is so helpful. Thank you so much! Exactly what I was looking for. Now, perhaps I should create a tutorial (if one doesn't exist already...) of how to use one of these apps to sfg-ify a "real life" game for continuation over the interwebs...Where would a good place for this tutorial be?

[Phelan]

Sensei's Library is a good spot for that, I think.