Re: Plagiary problem

[Nick Wedd <Nick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Avijit Ghosh <aghosh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes

>       Hi, i've been lurking here for a while and skimmed over
>some of the data that was presented to as plagiarism. I have to say I find
>it borderline incredible that all these programs have been copied from
>handtalk. Are you *absolutely* positive that what you are seeing are not
>due to compiler similarities?

As HandTalk was not written in a compiled language, this possibility can
be ruled out.

You say "all these programs".  I have only seen allegations made against
two programs (though I have heard that there are rumours).  What have I
missed?  Or is it just that these two programs have both appeared in
various versions and under various names?

> (Or reverse training against handtalk?) It
>seems to me that the simplest way to do this is just to allow a 3rd party
>to just look at the source code for the various programs.. 

Yes, that would be good, if it can be arranged.  But one would have to
obtain
  a competent and neutral 3rd party
  payment for his time
  the source code of the programs
It is not easy.

>       The number of real go programs out there are probably under 10

There were 17 entrants in the Ing Computer Goe Cup, and more than 30 in
the FOST Cup.

>and the methodologies of them may be relatively similiar.. especially
>since everyone seems to store opening moves and other dictionaries.. 

Indeed, in my opinion evidence from similar joseki dictionaries is not
compelling.

>       As someone who bought handtalk, I find the amount of
>bad blood between a group of programmers that are so small a bit
>disheartening. 

I find it disheartening too.  I would like to know who is to blame for
it - is there plagiarism, or are there false allegations?

>(whatever happened to the opensource go?)

I believe that opensource go is still proceeding.  As yet, it does not
play well.

Nick
-- 
Nick Wedd    nick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx