🚀 go-pugleaf

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Anders Carlsson wrote:
> Simon Waters <Simon@wretched.demon.co.uk> writes:
>
>
>>The link is to binary produced by a chap called Mike AFAIK.
>
>
> By the way, wouldn't it make sense to have official Windows binaries
> somewhere on the official GNU Chess pages?

I don't think so.

Microsoft Windows isn't a particularly important platform for the GNU
project, and it is not GNU project custom to distribute binaries gratis
(the Free Software Foundation are usually more than happy to provide
binaries if you pay).

I'm quite happy to link to unofficial sources of binaries (we do via
Tim's pages already).

I haven't come across the right free software tools for correctly
packaging Microsoft Windows software, and whilst shipping just the EXE
file is fine for many users, most will want a nice installer (like Tim
does).

Similarly most will want a graphical user interface. The beauty of the
GNU GPL is that anyone can bundle a copy of the GNU Chess engine with
their chess interface or database subject to a few minimal and well
understood conditions.

> ... only a fraction of the
> Windows users willing to play chess probably owns a compiler and know
> how to operate it.

I think it is odd that there is no equivalent of "apt" for Windows, it
makes finding and installing software on Microsoft Windows so much
harder, and less reliable, than on Debian.

Cygwin provides a neat distribution system for free software on
Microsoft Windows, as well GCC, if people need a compiler.

The Free Software Foundation do sell a CD and book set for Microsoft
Windows, including their compiler tools for 35USD I believe, currently
no GNU Chess binary is included.

The FSF also sell binary versions of the main compiler tools for various
proprietary operating systems, to help get people started. Although most
big operating system vendors now pay third parties to provide these to
their users gratis if they don't bundle an equivalent tool, or bundle it
them themselves.
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