I've read the posts about notation.

It reminds me about chess programs. PGN is the standard but chess is used by a
lot of programs, it's not the case for Abalone. We dont need to exchange
formats with a chess or go engine (it's pretty game specific).

I think we simply need a format with a specification. And have it included in as
many programs as we could (our programs for example).

Notation is not really an issue, except if you want humans to be able to read
the file with no specific program. You may store using one notation but display
with another that you choose from a menu. If there is "an official notation"
that they give at abalonegames.com, let's use the abapro format (as a reward to
Tino's achievement in programming), for storage in the file.

There is something i remember about chess tools (i played competitions when i
was a kid) : it becomes complicated when you want to have tools for positions,
positions analysis files, games, games analysis (including sequences of moves
from the same side to explain the threat), opening books (you need to be able
to handle transposition) ... and so on.

If you use one format for nacre, no problem i could use the same i guess. Or at
least provide a feature to import/export in your format.

Otherwise i'll use mine :)

David.


Selon peer.d.sommerlund@...:

> AbaPro does not have time limits. You have to experiment with the level to
> find the highest that does not use more than 1 sec (exclusive the marble
> animation)
>
> The .ABA format is not described. I wanted to use it as well at first, but
> then figured that I'd rather go with an existing open format. I know three
> candidates
> * PGN - simple
> * SGF - complex, allows variants
> * GGF - simple but allows time-per-move recording
>
> I prefer PGN because it is simple and easy for humans to read.
>
> All formats have the same problem: There are no good standard for move
> notation in Abalone. My current proposal is the standard coordinates + the
> abbreviated notation (see
> http://90214.aceboard.fr/90214-2318-15375-0-Move-notation.htm)
>
> -----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
> Fra: david.malek@... [mailto:david.malek@...]
> Sendt: 23. november 2005 10:02
> Til: Peer D. Sommerlund, PDI
> Emne: Re: SV: Abnet
>
>
>
> For the 1 sec match, does abapro allow setting time limits? I thought it
> wouldnt
> work in 4.8, last time i looked the help file seemed to say that it doesnt
> work.
> I'll check this and give you the outcome.
>
> I have another question : is the ABA file format described anywhere? I think
> this should move to XML but i'm interested in reading and writing .ABA files.
>
> Thanks again for the info, and i'm happy you have ideas for search and will
> find
> time to implement them. I also have plenty of ideas.
>
> by the way, for the time being, my program is not necessarily the "best
> player",
> but it killed abapro's level 6. I'm interested in the tests you'll do with
> Nacre. To know where I stand.
>
> I hope we'll be able to exchange "latest builds" of our programs for a while
> (and not old versions, at the moment i provide my best versions with control
> panels). I think we can bring the level of abalone playing programs quite
> high
> i hope ;)
>
> David.
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
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>