XBoardCECP

XBoardCECP is a software component designed to facilitate communication between the XBoard/WinBoard graphical user interface and chess engines using the Chess Engine Communication Protocol (CECP). It acts as a bridge that translates between GUI events and engine messages, enabling users to run and analyze games with external engines.

CECP is a text-based protocol used by many chess frontends and engines. XBoardCECP implements CECP handling within the XBoard environment, providing compatibility with engines that implement CECP while maintaining XBoard's user experience.

Key features include CECP parsing and serialization, command and response routing between GUI and engine, options negotiation, support for standard CECP commands such as new, move, and analyze, time control management, and multi-engine support via separate CECP sessions.

Architecture is modular, with a core CECP interface, a frontend adapter for XBoard, and per-engine workers. It emphasizes asynchronous I/O, non-blocking GUI operation, and cross-platform compatibility.

Usage and deployment typically involve including XBoardCECP in an XBoard/WinBoard distribution, configuring the frontend to connect to the CECP layer, and launching engine binaries. Users can start a game, request engine moves, and review variations.

Limitations include support primarily for CECP-based engines; some engines implement CECP variants that require adaptation; UCI or other protocols are not covered by default. Performance depends on engine responsiveness and system resources.

See also: Chess Engine Communication Protocol, XBoard, WinBoard, Chess engines.