[computer-go] Computer Go Tournament / Ladder Thoughts

[Ben Shoemaker <planetb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

I've been following the GTP-GMP-Tournament discussion and would like to
throw in a few thoughts:

1) There seems to be a space for a tournament-manager package (similar to
how GoGui manages a single match) that would referee the matches between
the all the contestants, capturing statistics and game records for all
matches.  It would be kind of like a specialized go server, allowing
multiple connections from multiple computers.  (Perhaps each contestant
could run GoGui specifying a match between their program and the tournament
referee which would in turn connect any given two programs for a specified
match?)   Something with cross-platform open standard support would allow
everyone to test their program in the tournament environment beforehand.  A
live tournament test environment could even be available over the Internet.

As Nick and Don have stated, the interpersonal aspect of computer
tournaments should not be compromised but facilitated.  Enhancing the
interactions between the programmers during the matches should be a goal of
the tournament-manager package.  As long as the programmers can see the
game happening and follow along, it's really up to them at that point to
talk about it.

It sounds like there are already pieces out there for at least a partial
solution, but reference implementations on various platforms and/or better
documentation should improve the situation.

2) I personally would like to see an automated Computer Go Ladder.  Matches
would be played continuously for all participants.  As new participants
join the ladder, they would start at the bottom and play matches to move up
the ladder.  Multiple versions of the same program could conceivably
participate simultaneously.  The statistics of the ladder could be quite
interesting.  The sheer number of games would allow any "learning"
participants to improve over time.  Humans would be unlikely to impersonate
a computer program due to the volume of games required to stay in the
ladder.

Just thought I would quit lurking and add my two cents,
Ben Shoemaker.


		
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