Maestro: a chess gui (wip)

[netmaestro]

For now just testing graphics and simple animation. But this will form the basis for a long-term project that will provide a full range of chess functions:

- Play against GM-rated computer opponent (open-source "Crafty" by Dr. Bob Hyatt)
- Load positions and have Crafty analyze them
- Play against a human opponent over network or internet
- Participate in training modules covering the key aspects of the game e.g. openings, middlegame, endgame, pawn structure, tactics, etc.

But for now you can just move the pieces around and take anything you want. The main reason I posted this demo is that I was torn between technologies for the graphics and play and I wanted to see my final choice tested by several people to see if it's viable. I really wanted to avoid using DirectX and sprites because that means using a windowed screen & gui gadgets together and that, while certainly doable, is a pain in the ass.

Thanks for testing it!

[fizban]

Although the thread is a little bit old now, I just downloaded the demo an I have a couple of comments:
- I do not see the nice textured background posted in one of the first posts. I see the board with solid colors.
- I am not able to resize the board

I am on Windows XP SP3.

[netmaestro]

The textured board is going to be an option.

I didn't really make clear how to resize the board. If you move the mouse over the bottom-right corner of the board (only this corner, nowhere else) you should get a nw-se sizing cursor which allows you to resize the board larger or smaller within boundaries. Let me know if this doesn't work, thanks for testing it!

[fizban]

The resizing works perfectly, now that I know where to click

[netmaestro]

Thx, good to know. The real trick was getting the collision testing to remain accurate over a wide variation of sizes, I'm mainly concerned about that working right.

[infratec]

Hi,

I just played again with your board.
Sometimes it happens to me that I don't hit the piece.
So I have to click a second time.

Wouldn't it be better if a click on the area of the field is enough to drag the piece?
This would save me a lot of 'double' clicks.
And I can be more inaccurate

Bernd