INTRO connx is basically just another version of connect-4, go-moku (spelling?), etc. Not much originality here. I wanted to write a client/server game using X-Windows that I could play with friends over the net. Hopefully, this is just a stepping-stone to some other more advanced net games I'm working on. It may not be XPilot, but it can be kinda fun (for a little while). The only thing different about this version is that it allows multiple players/teams to play what is usually considered a two-player game. Some people have told me it makes the game interesting. Some people have told me it's just stupid. Either way - Enjoy. Neil Cohen cohenn@us.net ********************************************************************** connx-1.1 changes - 1.0 had a problem which caused connx GUI to eat up all the CPU time. This is fixed now. No other enhancements were made. ********************************************************************** COMPILATION connx was written using X11R6 on Linux, but there's no reason why it shouldn't work with R4/R5. The scalable fonts may not work correctly, but they should just default to a fixed size. connx runs on a color display. There's no code in it to handle pixmaps of depth 1. Running it with a mono display adapter will probably cause the game to crash. It has been tested (though not thoroughly) on Linux and AIX. (For AIX, add the -DAIX flag in the Makfile.) I'd be surprised if it didn't work on any other Unix box. connx can be compiled to use Unix sockets or TCPIP sockets. The only reason to used Unix sockets is if you don't have TCPIP running on your machine (which I didn't when I developed this under Linux). ************************************************************************ PLAYING THE GAME --------------------------------------------------------------------- Run the server: connserv options: -rows: how many rows will be on the game board -cols: how many columns will be on the game board -conn: number of pieces a player has to connect to win -gravity: whether pieced fall to lowest unused position (connect 4) or stay where you place them (go-moku). -timeout: how long a player has to move in seconds. The server brings up a menu which allows you to set all the options, list connections, start the game, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- have the clients connect: connx -name -host -display Make sure either the connect.ad resources file is in the directory you are running connx from, or the defaults have been added to your .Xdefaults file. If -name isn't specified, it defaults to user's account name. If -host isn't specified, it defaults to the local host. If -display isn't specified, it defaults to $DISPLAY. Once all the players have connected, use the server to start the game. Players use the mouse to move their piece and the mouse button to place it. Selecting 'Q' will cause them to quit the game. connx alows the player to resize their window to any size. The rest is pretty easy to figure out. Actually, so is all the above. *********************************************************************** Files README - this file Makefile - a very basic Makefile commun.c, commun.h - TCPIP communications xconnect.h, xconnect.c - the XWindow routines used by the client client.c - the main client driver server.c - the main server driver connect.h, connect.c - routines used by server to play the game connect.ad - resource file -- colors, etc.