[Bug-gnubg] Things I hate about the GnuBg GUI

[Morten Juul Henriksen]

Hello mighty masters of GnuBg,

I can't send mail to address@hidden so I try address@hidden

Some things I hate about the GnuBg GUI:
Yes, I know coding GUI=92s is pretty boring. However nothing is more annoyi=
ng for the user than a lame GUI so here are some suggestions. I use the win=
32 panel-version. Even though I=92m not a snowie-GUI fan I like the panels =
=96 nice work!

1. The =91Hint=92 window
Sorting moves by the evaluation type is annoying. Even blunders looks like =
they=92re among the best moves. Please sort (default) by equity. Maybe use =
different background colours for the different ply=92s.
=20=20=20
The =91show=92 button is kinda snowie=92ish. Why not just always show the m=
ove no matter what move you are clicking? Why would you not want to show th=
e move you=92ve clicked? When unselecting a move (by clicking it again) ret=
urn to the initial position.

2. Evalution, analysis, hint:
I think, and I know many agrees, that keeping track of all the different ev=
aluation settings is more confusing than helpful.

Is it really neassessary with all the evaluation and rollout types (analysi=
s, evaluation, hint)? Wouldn=92t it be better just to popup a window (and l=
et the user chose ply, rollout etc. in addition to a =91last used=92 and th=
e predefines =91expert=92, =91world class=92 etc.) when evaluation is press=
ed?

Notice how smooth the =91new=92 button does the job by popping up a window =
instead of having several menu entries like =93new match=92, =91new moneyga=
me session=92 and so on.

Why do you have to chose =91rollout=92 or =91rollout cube decision=92 ? Can=
=92t GnuBg see if the dice have already been thrown? The same goes for the =
temp maps.

3. Analysis
When an analysis is done, why not auto-popup the statistics window? When wo=
uld you not want to do this (except maybe when running a script)?

On the menu =91analyse game=92, =91analyse match=92 should be grouped like =
=91clear analysis=92 is or, even better, popup a window letting the user ch=
ose all settings for the analysis.

4. Edit
Start gnubg and press =91edit=92 immidately funny (buggy) things happen. Tr=
y adding and removing checkers for both sides. Editing match and posid also=
 seems impossible.

5. Rolling the dice, moving checkers
When you=92re on roll, why do you have to press the relatively small area b=
etween the points? Shouldn=92t it be enough just to press your side (right)=
 of the board?

Left-click: I want to move THIS checker.
Right-click: I want to move at least one checker HERE and two if possible.

If I want to move 24/13 with a checker, I should only have to right-click t=
he 13 point (hitting a checker on the way if possible as default).

6. Quitting
A =91save settings, then quit=92 option in the quit-dialog would be nice.

Regards,
Morten Juul Henriksen


"Jeg er et geni! Og beskeden! Altså et 'beskedent geni'"
Name: Morten Juul Henriksen
Email: address@hidden ICQ: 101793081
Adress: Langelandsgade 12, 4 tv, 8000 Aarhus C, DK
Phone: (+45)87483344 or 61707281