Re: [Bug-gnubg] Website (and gnubg) suggestion

[Fabio Spelta]

> I'm not sure if this web forum is the best thing in this situation. I'm
> afraid that we then will get bug reports spread in all the different
> places. Bug reports to the mailing list, to the bug tracker, to the
> comments of the articles, at GammOnLine, and in addition at a web forum.
> Can be hard to track all these. I would perfere it if the bug reports
> goes to the mailing list or the bugtracker and nowhere else.

You can always put a banner on the forum page:
PLEASE DON'T POST GNUBG BUGS HERE. Use the <link>mailing list</link>
or the <link>bug tracker<link> instead.
Something like that.
Elsewhere, could you think about managing the bugs only in the tracker 
*and* in the forum instead? I'm pretty sure you'll have much more 
feedback if people could post problems in a forum instead than in a 
mailing list or in a "bug tracker". I think most of gnubg users would 
think something like "what the hell is that bug tracker?". Think how 
many would think the same of a forum.
Remember that gnubg is not a program only for techies, where has much 
sense to prefere tools like a bug tracker for bug management; I suppose 
that most of gnubg players are *not* programmers, or geeks, but only 
backgammon lovers instead. Of course this list is mostly subscribed by 
tech-savvy people, but how many gnubg players (or people interested in 
gnubg) does exists *out* of here?

> What I rather think is a better idea, is to make thread of the commets
> to each article in the blog. In that way we can reply to simple problems
> which users report in the comments field. What do you think of that?

This would be nice, too, but of course not the same, since people could 
not post their thoughs without necessarily repliyng to some article.

> This has been discussed several times over the years. The fear is that
> people will hack it to cheat on FIBS. ("Hey, cheating must be fun?").

No, there is no fun in that... I wonder how can someone have some fun 
cheating on FIBS. That could have sense when there's money around the 
games, but when the only stuff to risk or gain is *score*...
Anyhow, most important: if someone REALLY wants to cheat with gnubg on 
FIBS, it can do it anyway. By coping moves by hand, or writing the code 
him/herself, of hiring some developer to do that.

But, once again, WHY?

> Since you sitting at a Linux box  I guess you should be able to connect
> it to FIBS with the code that's already there.

So what? There's already some FIBS code in GNUBG?

> Take the fibs cookie
> monster and clue it with the gtkboard code. That should do the trick I
> guess.

Oh my gosh. FIBS cookie monster? I don't know what you are talking 
about. I will take a look at it.

Thank you very much,

Fabio