computer-go: Go Protocols

[seckinge@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi!

I'm relatively new to computer go (and go as well) and just started to
write an engine. Now the question of what protocol to use. I know two,
that both I'm not happy with:

a) Go Modem Protocol 
I've translated the gmp.c to java and it works (more or less), I can
connect to cgoban. But my implementation seems somewhat unstable. I
inserted some debug-code. With debug-code it works, but I have an odd
feeling (something with timing seems to be wrong). Also I'd prefer to
setup my engine via the protocol, which isn't possible. With cgoban I
can't even test the undo-feature. An other drawback is, that it isn't
ascii based.

b) NNGS/IGS-Protocol
I havn't internet connection at home, so I'd need my own server what I
think isn't worth the work. I havn't found any description of the
protocol, too.

An other drawback of both of them is, that they aren't simple to use.
So I thought of creating my own protocol, but that has the drawback
that it will not used widely. 

This in mind, I wonder if there are better protocols out there.
Properties I'd wish for a protocol are:

Server based  (Server starts and controles the engine(s)).
Ascii         (Easier to debug for humans, will give the chance of
               simulating an engine via telnet or stdin/stout)
Simple        (Why making complicated when not needed.)
Extendable    (If possible I'd like to start special features of the
               engine from the server rather than interact with the
               engine directly)

Do you know any, that suits this (or part of this)? I've seen, that
gnuchess uses a protocol, that looks like something I'd use (but
that's for chess ;-).

Thanks, Berni
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| Bernhard Seckinger, University of Freiburg, Computer Science Institute |
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