H. G. Muller wrote on Sun, Aug 19, 2018 09:39 AM UTC:
Actually equiping the Interactive Diagram with an AI is one of the (alas many) things on my to-do list. As configuring the diagram for the more common variants is rather straightforward (and a wizard exists to make that even simpler), this would be able to support a large fraction of the variants described here.
Furthermore, the input format for the diagram (currently piece names and their moves in Betza notation) could be easily extended to handle some of the more 'exotic' rules that are common (zoning of the board, limitations to what can capture what, special promotion rules). Currently the diagram can only implement such rules by allowing them to be specified by additional (optional) JavaScript routines on the web page that contains it, which is a bit cumbersome.
I am not sure challenging visitors on the home page by an AI in a random variant is a good idea, though. I do think it would be a good idea to have the possibility in articles that describe a variant to play the latter against an AI. The AI does not have to be strong; in fact it would do more harm than good if it was. It would most likely be used by people that just read the rules for the first time, and it would be rather discouraging for them if they get crushed without a chance. So I am aiming for something that does not entirely play like an idiot, but can be beaten by a beginner who puts in some effort.
A good example of what I am after is the Peace Chess article: this contains a diagram that acts as a simple computer opponent. Eventually I want all articles I authored to contain such a feature. As most of those already contain Interactive Diagrams, this should happen automatically once I equip the script for the Diagram with an AI. That would also bring to life the Diagrams I posted in the Comments section of many articles not authored by me.
For other variants it still would require configuring the Diagram, and putting it on the page, though. Like Fergus says, there is no way yet to compile the English description to a formal rules set on which the AI could act. It is unlikely there will ever be one: the English descriptions are too inhomogeneous for that.
Actually equiping the Interactive Diagram with an AI is one of the (alas many) things on my to-do list. As configuring the diagram for the more common variants is rather straightforward (and a wizard exists to make that even simpler), this would be able to support a large fraction of the variants described here.
Furthermore, the input format for the diagram (currently piece names and their moves in Betza notation) could be easily extended to handle some of the more 'exotic' rules that are common (zoning of the board, limitations to what can capture what, special promotion rules). Currently the diagram can only implement such rules by allowing them to be specified by additional (optional) JavaScript routines on the web page that contains it, which is a bit cumbersome.
I am not sure challenging visitors on the home page by an AI in a random variant is a good idea, though. I do think it would be a good idea to have the possibility in articles that describe a variant to play the latter against an AI. The AI does not have to be strong; in fact it would do more harm than good if it was. It would most likely be used by people that just read the rules for the first time, and it would be rather discouraging for them if they get crushed without a chance. So I am aiming for something that does not entirely play like an idiot, but can be beaten by a beginner who puts in some effort.
A good example of what I am after is the Peace Chess article: this contains a diagram that acts as a simple computer opponent. Eventually I want all articles I authored to contain such a feature. As most of those already contain Interactive Diagrams, this should happen automatically once I equip the script for the Diagram with an AI. That would also bring to life the Diagrams I posted in the Comments section of many articles not authored by me.
For other variants it still would require configuring the Diagram, and putting it on the page, though. Like Fergus says, there is no way yet to compile the English description to a formal rules set on which the AI could act. It is unlikely there will ever be one: the English descriptions are too inhomogeneous for that.