I just got an email from Little Golem about a complete website redesign. This part particularly caught my attention:

Coming in October: during October, we will retire the old website and move entirely to the new application….

Wow, that is a short timeline. Also, it will break Twixt Commentator.

The issue is that the SGF format simply does not include enough data. For example, there is no way to tell from the SGF data whether a game is in progress or forfeited. I have to scrape the web page to find out. So when LG web pages change in a way that breaks this, I have to update Commentator, or you will never be able to comment on a forfeited game.

The new game web page doesn't include that information, either. For example, here is a recent game:
https://www.littlegolem.net/app/#/tournament/twixt.ch.73.1.1/game/2561626
…is it forfeited?

(Pay no mind to the tournament name in the URL. The link works, with the wrong tournament, and I had no success finding the right url. It is weird that the tournament name should be in the URL at all, given that the game number is globally unique across LG.)

It looks like there is now an “Analyse” button on game pages that lets a user click around, but there is no notation to copy, no private notes, and no ability to add comments to discuss a completed game. To be fair, Commentator was always an extension of things that I wished were built into Little Golem, but this is missing some chunks of functionality.

Is the path forward to lobby Richard for those missing chunks, or should I try to keep Twixt Commentator working with the new Little Golem?

WHAT EVER WORKS BEST FOR A SITE SIMILAR TO COMMENTATOR WOULD BE THE BEST AS YOU COULD PREVIEW MOVES GOING FORWARD AND SEE WHAT THEY WERE IF YOU SAVED A PDF OR WHATEVER. I'M NOT SURE WHY FORFITED GAMES WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO MOST PLAYERS? AS OF NOW MY TWIXT DAYS ARE OVER AS ARE MANY PLAYERS I KNOW OF. THANKS

Hello Alan. Please keep the TC working with the new LG, if possible. Regards, Flemming

Maybe the retirement of the old website won't be as drastic as expected. I can imagine that Richard could leave the functionality of urls like https://www.littlegolem.net/jsp/game/game.jsp?gid= and https://www.littlegolem.net/jsp/ld/tournament.jsp?trnid= a while longer than just october. Even if all “official” links to these secret parts are removed from the standard user experience. It seems the database structure in itself hasnt changed and it shouldn't cost more to keep the functionality than to remove it. Let's see what happens.

It seems the old java site will remain for a little longer. At lest it got a discrete link on the home page! So for now the old interface is still working. Your forfeited game can still be examined with the old URL (https://www.littlegolem.net/jsp/game/game.jsp?gid=2561626).

Well, that works OK. Richard put a 'copy game number' box right by the game information. So let's say you want to look at the game in Commentator: just do a copy game number, open Twixt Commentator, paste the number in the box on top, and voila! Works like a charm.

But perhaps the direct link method that Alan originally programmed won't work anymore. What about Tasuki's analysis page? I will test now. Yup. That works too. But unless Richard does something about putting links to these pages as he did before, everyone should have direct links:

Twixt Commentator (Alan Hensel): https://twixt-commentator.duckdns.org/

tasuki's analysis site: https://games.tasuki.org/

and tasuki's site also supports HEX, Torus GO, and GO.
(meow)

I've been working on making Commentator compatible with the new LG, and while I haven't tied up all of the loose ends yet, Commentator is already at the point where you would have to look real close to notice any difference. I'm pleased to say that it has been easier than I expected, and I really like Richard's new API.

And I've just been notified that the links to Twixt Commentator are in. Enjoy!

The new website looks bad and works catastrophic. There are missing a lot of features. Why change a running system? Richard please leave the old site as it was!
That would be very good!
With regards and thanks!

Would like to know if “challenging” a player to a game makes it a rated game or if this is strictly for unrated games. Info would be appreciated. Also, if unrated, I would love a feature that allows players to challenge each other for rated games.
Thanks!