[ggo-discussion] gGo next generation ?

For the curious, this the "maybe next generation gGo prototype":

http://panda-igs.joyjoy.net/java/gGo/glGo/

This is a new implementation written in C++ based on OpenGL (and optional a
simple 2D display for those without proper graphiccard), available for
Windows and Linux (probably OS X, too, but without having a Mac myself I
cannot compile it).

It is very much Work-In-Progress, rather Work-In-Beginning-Progress. Right
now there is only a board and you can play with yourself clicking stones,
not very thrilling. I focused on the OpenGL display which is in the
available version not too bad.

The Readme file contains some important information, as you will need a
proper 3D driver installed, else the OpenGL board will look just ugly and be
very slow. Please refer to the Requirements section within this file or the
manual (both available online, too).

The idea came up talking with Tweet, who obviously would like to see more
people using gGo instead of the default PandaEgg client. However, among most
users the resistance against Java is quite high. I personally don't
understand the arguments though. But it seems clear that a Java client will
never get full acceptance amongst the majority of users, for whatever
reasons. I heard sentences like "gGo would be cool if it were a real Windows
program" quite often - whatever "real Windows program" means is unclear to
me. The majority of IGS users are not computer engeneers and programmers.

However, I will not abandon the availability of the client on Linux. A
Windows version is fine and most important, but I am not interested in a
Windows-only application at all. So the combination of OpenGL and wxWindows,
which is available for Windows, Linux and OS X, sounds pretty interesting.

As mentioned above, the requirements for 3D drivers are tough and probably a
serious limitation for the average computer user who has no idea how to
install 3D drivers, unless he is a gamer (I doubt most IGS users are). Much
has been said against Java, but when exchanging Java with C++ one is also
exchanging Java related problems with other problems.

I don't know yet exactly where this will end and if I will continue
development on this at all to a usable level. It is a start and some
evaluation what might be possible at the moment. However, it seems quite
clear to me I am not willing to invest another year into client development
without any financial compensation at all.


Well, just some random thoughts. Give it a try or look at the screenshots.
Feedback is very welcome. :)


 Peter

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