shape database applet

[Dave Dyer <ddyer@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm preparing to publish my shape database, which contains "perfect move" information 
for eye shapes up to size 7. (see http://www.andromeda.com/people/ddyer/go/shape-library.html)

The database will be available free for noncommercial use in Go programs.  

I'm working on a java applet to allow the database to be browsed, and not incidentally
to demonstrate how to read and use the database.

version 0 of this applet is available at http://www.andromeda.com/people/ddyer/go/shape/ShapeApplet.html


instructions:  You'll need Explorer 4.x or Netscape 4.04 (with the 1.1 awt classes)
go to the page, you'll see three go boards and a "find" button.  Select the quadrant
of the board to place the shape on the left board.  Set up the shape by toggling
stones on the middle board.  Click the "find" button.  Toggle black stones on
the right board.  The "fate of this shape" and "where to move" information are
displayed in a typeout window.

The database file contains only a snippet of the whole database, and the applet
doesn't handle symmetry yet, so you have to enter the shape the same way is is
in the database.  For example, "bent four" is found this way
 . . . . .
 . . . X .
 . X X X .   So the interesting place to place it is in the lower-right corner.
 . . . . .



Later versions of the applet will handle symmetries, and display the results
in a friendlier way.