Re: Go software

[Fuming Wang <fuming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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On Sun, 20 Sep 1998, Richard Stallman wrote:

> You know more about Go programs than I do, and I'm definitely
> interested in your opinion about whether to adopt a certain
> program as GNU Go.  But please don't rush off and announce
> a decision.  These decisions have to come from me.
> 
> I think we should wait a few days at least, and see what else turns
> up, before making a final decision.
> 
> Meanwhile, I'll send Fuming the explanation of what it means
> for a program to be GNU software.
> 

Mr. cracraft, Mr. Stallman

This maybe is good time for me to clarify something:

I released JaGo in GPL license last year, and haven't do much to improve
it since. I do plan to improve JaGo in two area were it selected as the
next GNU Go, 
(1) seperate interface and Go engine
(2) add open book.
I may not be able to do more work after that.  

I am also trying to develop a new Go program which may not play Go anytime
soon (probably like lots of Go programmer's on the list). I may not
release this new program under GPL license.

My only intention of offering JaGo as the next GNU Go is to introduce the
game of Go to more audience. To my knowledge, JaGo seems like a good
candidate for this purpose. However, I am not so sure whether it is a good
candidate for the foundation of a strong Go program mainly because I have
no plan of making JaGo a full blown Go program. 

Ok, with above side, I do wish JaGo to be selected as GNU GO so that it
can reach more audience and to be improved by interested programmers.
I just checked a link on AGA's computer go page:
http://nis.acs.uci.edu/~strombrg/go.html,
There are several free Go program on the page, like perception, xamigo,
goo. I wonder wether the authors of these programs are on this list or
know about the annoucement about GNU Go. Maybe they want their program
to be GNU GO as well.

Regards,

--Fuming Wang