[computer-go] Go Servers and protocol

[A van Kessel]

> IGS uses a protocol derived from that of a chess server.  It is not 
> open, but the IGS admins may release it to you, if you can convince them 
> that you are only going to write a client and will not use it to write a 
> compatible server.

This is essentially true. Though the initial IGS/NNGS was essentially
a copy of FICS (the chess server), both in code and in protocol.


> Years ago, NNGS was created, to use what was then the same protocol as 
> IGS.  The NNGS protocol, which I think never changed, is open. However 
> NNGS, and its web site, have ceased to exist;  so it may be hard to find 
> details of it.

This is what the "server-wars" were all about. IGS made the protocol
public ("for client program developers" ).
There have been some minor "forks" in the protocol, but essentially
they are the same.

FWIW: The NNGS source-code still exists and is maintained (by me ...)
and it can be found at sourceforge.net. Current version is nngs-1.1.20,
october 2005, IIRC. I've always tried to stay as close to the original
protocol as I could. Idon't know who the users are, but there are still 
reports of one or two downloads per day.

(An older version of) this server software runs at
Dave Dyer's boardspace.net.

nngs.cosmic.org has disappeared last summer, unfortunately.


> After NNGS published the protocol, various other servers were created 
> using the same protocol.  These have included
> BoardSpace  (for use of bots not humans)  [http://boardspace.net/nngs/]
> Chinese Weiqi Server (CWS)                [http://cws.weiqi.net/]
> European Go Server (EGS)                  [?]
> Legend Go Server (LGS)                    [?]
> Polish Go Server (PIGS/PLGS)              [defunct]
> Worldwide Go Web (WGS)                    [defunct]
> World-Wide Internet Gokaisho (WING)       [http://www.wing.gr.jp/]

AFAIK, most of the servers are NNGS-"clones": they grabbed a copy
of the NNGS-sourcecode (in some stage) , and changed some of it
(mostly ident/banners ;-) ,including adding new commands, and possibly
minor changes in the protocol.

> For IGS, and for some of those listed above (including CWS), the 
> protocol used has evolved and diverged from that which was once common 
> to IGS and NNGS.

That is right. Consider IGS//NNGS the first fork in the pedigree.
Most of the NNGS-"clones" are still very close to the original NNGS,
IMHO.


> I have also heard that several of the large Korean Go servers use a 
> common protocol.  I cannot read Korean, and know nothing about this.

Is should be very close to "origina" (say 1995) IGS/NNGS protocol,
or clients would break. Only KGS is different: Bill Shubert probably
wanted to get rid of the protocol-wars, and bravely designed his own.


> Nick

Adriaan van Kessel.