GNU Go

GNU Go is a free software program by the Free Software Foundation that plays Go. Its source code is quite portable, and can be easily compiled for Linux, as well as other Unix-like systems, Microsoft Windows and macOS; ports exist for other platforms.

This article is about a software re-creation of the Go board game. For the Google-sponsored programming language also known as golang, see Go (programming language). For the different, older programming language by Francis McCabe, see Go! (programming language).
GNU Go
Developer(s)GNU Go Team
Initial release13 March 1989 (1989-03-13)[1]
Stable release
3.8 / February 19, 2009 (2009-02-19)
Repository
Operating systemLinux, Windows, macOS
TypeComputer Go
LicenseGNU GPLv3
Websitewww.gnu.org/software/gnugo

The program plays Go against the user, at about 5 to 7 kyu strength on the 9×9 board. Multiple board sizes are supported, from 5×5 to 19×19.

Strength

At this level of performance, GnuGo was between six and seven stones weaker than the top commercial programs on good hardware as of early 2009, but comparable in strength to the strongest programs not using Monte Carlo methods. It did well at many computer Go tournaments. For instance, it took the gold medal at the 2003 and 2006 Computer Olympiad[2] and second place at the 2006 Gifu Challenge.[3]

Protocols

Although ASCII-based, GNU Go supports two protocols—the Go Modem Protocol and the Go Text Protocol—by which GUIs can interface with it to give a graphical display. Several such GUIs exist. GTP also allows it to play online on Go servers (through the use of bridge programs), and copies can be found running on NNGS, KGS, and probably others.

Versions

The current (stable) version of GNU Go is 3.8. The latest experimental release was 3.9.1. There is also an experimental feature for using Monte Carlo methods for 9×9 board play.

A version called Pocket GNU Go, based on GNU Go 2.6, is available for the Windows CE operating system (Pocket PC). Versions based on the much weaker 1.2 engine also exist for the Game Boy Advance and Palm Pilot.

See also

References
  1. "GNU Go Development Versions". Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. "Computer Go - Past Events".
  3. "Gifu Challenge 2006". Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
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