Re: Go software

["Weimin Xiao" <ranxiao@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

MS VJ++ 6.0 automatically compiles Java program into .exe file. I tested a
small numerical calculating program using MS VC++, VJ++, and JVM (Java), the
program runs 50, 75, and 90 seconds correspondently. Though the J++ .exe
program ran 50% slower than the C++ .exe program, one might be able to live
with that speed.

The big advantage of using Java for GO is the platform independence, people
need not to worry the GO GUI on different OS. But, there are many problems.
Speed is one - since the interface in J++ is the same as the virtual class
in C++, that will further slow down a program a lot. Pure OO and its
maturity is another, and then the popularity. I do not know how many people
here willing to speak Java.

If Fuming or someone can work out a Java GO GUI that will talk to C++
intimately, that will be a big plus at lest for GNU GO and OpenGo.

Weimin

-----Original Message-----
On Fri, 18 Sep 1998, Richard Stallman wrote:

> Isn't speed often crucial in such game programs?
> Perhaps rewriting it in C would improve the quality of play.
...

There are three possible solutions:
(1) use an existing Go front end like cgoban, port JaGo to C and use it
as the engine.
(2) separate the interface and engine code in JaGo, and implement engine
in native (C) code if necessary.
(3) compile Java program directly to machine code (gcc ?)

...
--Fuming Wang