CoffeeHouse Fixes List

Here is a list of features added and problems recently fixed.

version 0.0.74 2-2-98

• Made changes so CoffeeHouse works with Java 1.1 correctly, including MS IE 4.
• Added explicit garbage collection when memory is low. (Known problem: can still run out of memory when you log out and log back in).

version 0.0.73 8-17-97

• Fixed so that Bughouse and Kriegspiel *really* work now.

version 0.0.72 8-15-97

• More cosmetic improvements ("about" window doesn't appear every time, "about" and seek help look better, etc.)
• Changed BugPicker to be more stable (use middle/right mouse button in Bughouse, or hold down Option on Mac)
• Added Kriegspiel parsing
• Added "Register" menu option

version 0.0.71 7-9-97

• Cosmetic improvements (seek graph pops up on login, graph includes menu to issue a seek, rounded the circles)
• Changed OkBox to facilitate help dialogs

version 0.0.70 7-8-97

• Replaced the matches list with a seek graph a la BlitzIn.

version 0.0.61 7-3-97

• Added TIMESTAMPING and encryption. You will now be compensated for lag in your games, you can be "ping"ed, and all information sent to and fro is secure.
• Added left-margin highlights to help distinguish personal tells, channel tells, and kibitzes/whispers from the clutter of shouts and seeks.

version 0.0.60 6-18-97

• Fixes for new netscape 4.0
• Fixes for microsoft internet explorer 3.02 [handle more text output ourselves]
• Move all coffeehouse classes into package com.chessclub.chouse to avoid conflicts
• Automaticly figure out hostname to connect to. This makes cloning coffeehouse for special events servers easier.
• Remove % loaded display now that files are loaded from the archive

Here is a list of problems recently fixed.

version 0.0.58

• CH always gives flag # but ICC doesn't like it
• Add more channels 49, 85 to popup list
• Add this list to help menu

version 0.0.57

• Fix after quiting CoffeHouse uses lots of CPU.
• Fix CoffeeHouse freezes up
• Keep CoffeeHouse in browser cache
• Put java files in archives (zip for netscape) (cab for explorer) so they download faster
• Sometimes you didnt get a sound when your oponent moves
• Add a online help button
• Display time controls in game window
• How do I install a shortcut to CoffeeHouse on my win95 desktop? first make a shortcut for your web browser. If you have a shortcut on your desktop the easiest thing to do is make a copy (select it then copy and paste). then rename the shortcut to be coffeehouse (click on the text area). Then right click on the shortcut and bring up properties. At the end (after the " character) enter http://chessclub.com/CofeeHouse.html

CoffeeHouse Bug List

Here is a list of known bugs in CoffeeHouse. Please send mail if you notice a bug that is not on this list.

• Various network problems with IE 4.0. Solution: don't use IE 4.0, it has buggy support for Java.
• Crashes on Kriegspiel (wild 16). Plan to fix in next version August. +++ fixed
• Bughouse plunking disfunctional. +++ fixed
• Netscape Communicator pre release 4 on 95/NT has a new machine code verify that doesn't like the obfusticated coffeehouse applet. It complains with a invalid character in field name error. +++ fixed
• HotJava browser doesn't read eithor cab or zip archive and gets can't find jiccc.class error.  Need to put out the .class files too. +++ fixed: class files available
• The new Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 on the macintosh causes an extreamly slow and garbled text window. We expect to release a new cofffehouse to work around this on thursday 5-22-97. +++ fixed?
• How do you download it. You don't it runs in your browser. Most users who ask this are running windows 3.1. The relased browsers for 3.1 don't support java
• On NT with MIE can't read clocks
• Login screen displays your password
• Have startup page check browser version. Give browser upgrade information to users running old browsers
• Offer to help diagnose problem if can't make initial connection
• Figure a way to pass thru firewalls
• Add timestamp +++ done.
• Seek window only handles two digit seek numbers +++ obsolete
• Color code sends in text window +++ would still be nice, but added left-margin highlights instead
• Be able to install coffeehouse on hard disk +++ with .cab and .zip files, not so relevant. email if you have interest in this
• Launch board at startup (board startup)
• Scrollable list of moves ala blitzen
• Buttons for common things needed in a hurry flag/takeback
• Better highlighting of last move piece
• On some x11 systems can't typing to game board
• Sometimes can't set focus to typein field
• SGI netscape users can only connect 50% of the time
• Use SSL (secure http) +++ encryption added
• One report game pieces disapeared. Reapeared on window resize
• Auto observe bug partner?
• If you scroll back the text window it hops to the end all the time (make a hold output) +++ varies... different platforms implement java.awt.TextArea with extremely different behaviours.
• One claim that sposition does not work
• Bug plunks come in as white? +++ fixed
• On sun solaris NS/3.01 couldn't enter @ key game out as ~
• Move number for kasparov games is off by one?
• Add a typeo editor ala doskey
• Under unknown conditions (if you figure it out let us know), some of the squares in a board will be painted gray instead of colored after a piece moves off of that square.  Update:  This happens under win95 when the pallet manager is messed up.  I saw it in a cybercafe in palo alto. All netscape windows had color problems
• Under Internet Explorer 3.0, running under Windows 95, the game board comes up too wide
• If debug is enabled without an argument it throws an exception
• After moving a piece with the mouse the wrong clock is hilighted for a bit

CoffeeHouse Technical Questions List

• Can I use CoffeeHouse with a non ICC server? No, CoffeeHouse uses communication protocols that only exist on ICC
• Is information available on the architecture and design of CoffeeHouse? Source code? Such information is not publicly available. Send email to icc@chessclub.com with any proposed joint ventures
• Can you tell me how to do the % loaded display? Start a new thread. It should interate over the class names and do a Class foo=getClass.forName(aclass); as it does this it update the % loaded. NB see next item using archives
• Using netscape how do you get your applet to load all at once? add a ARCHIVE="somename.zip" after the CODE="myapp.class". In somename.zip put all your class fiels. NOTE: the zip file MUST not be compressed (-e0 for command line). Also, be sure you are using a long name friendly zip and it didn't truncate .class to .cla
• Using internet explorer how do you get an applet to load all at once? Add a line <PARAM name="cabbase" value="jicc.cab"> as a parameter. Get the cab developers kit from microsoft. A cab file is microsofts version of zip
• How do you get it to work with both MSIE and netscape. Use both ARCHIVE argument and cabbase. MSIE ignores ARCHIVE. netscape ignores cabbase
• How do you get it to work with MSIE, netscape, and HotJava/Java station. Follow above instructions for .cab and zip, in addition place all the .class files on the web server too.