Enter Your Reply

Well, different media need different protocols. Calling an engine that is a
DLL is different from opening a pipe to another proces, which is again
different from opening a TCP link to an internet server. In general, other
information has to be exchanged to get the thing to work. When connecting
to a server you will have to announce who you are (i.e. log in). When a
GUI starts up an engine, there is no need for that. That is just one
example.

Standard protocols do exist. WinBoard protocol is one of those, usable for
GUI-engine communication. ICS protocol is another standard, used for
client-server communication over the internet. Many hundreds of engines
use WinBoard protocol. Dozens of Internet Chess servers use ICS protocol.
Why not simply stick to the existing standards? If te answer is: 'but the
sites I want to connect to don't want to use those standards', then why
do you think they would use our standard if we develop a new one?

Btw, I heard that FICS might be convinced to provide the unspeakable
variant on their site. I hope this wil open ICS potocol to variants in
general.