GNU Chess

[David A. Wheeler]

Hi - I'm thinking about trying to make
some modifications to GNU Chess, but I don't know
if you guys are actively accepting improvements, or if
you'd prefer I worked through CVS, or whatever.

PLEASE let me know if you are actively considering improvements to
GNU Chess 5.04; I don't want to waste my time.

In particular, the current PGN reader is awful.
I even found a case where it can't read back in a PGN file it saves,
and it doesn't accept a lot of PGN syntax
(% commands, ; comments, {} comments, RAV, and so on).
It can't even handle PGN where the move numbers are omitted, or where
FEN is included, or where black starts.
It also can't handle "nonstandard" but common PGN files
(Mac or Windows line endings, KxP format, etc.).

I'm thinking of rewriting the PGN reader (both book and non-book).
I might use flex instead of continuing the "hand scanner" approach.

Do you have a strong opinion on using/not using flex?
The generated code from flex could be included in the distribution
so that those who DON'T have flex could compile (as long as they
don't modify the flex code).  Flex makes it easier to write
lexical scanners.

Thanks.

BTW, here's the file that it saved and can't reload; trying to
pgnload it produces the error:
Illegal move 6. ... Bb4+

[Event ""]
[Site ""]
[Date "2002.09.21"]
[Round ""]
[White "GNU Chess 5.04"]
[Black ""]
[WhiteELO "0"]
[BlackELO "0"]
[Result ""]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 




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