Will it be possible to connect chessup to an external clock, e.g. dgt3000? From what I know, dgt3000 uses i2c for communication. Theoretically, you could connect both devices, e.g. via stm32f411 via USB-C cable or esp32 via Bluetooth. The second microcontroller would serve as a communication bridge for both devices. If you don’t want to do something like that, could you make some api so that the community could make such a connection for themselves? I teach a few people to play and it would be great if they started to get used to using the clock like in tournaments. I think that if there is a possibility, it would be worth doing something like that.
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The connection part is pretty easy. I am not sure how easy it is to wait on a clock (as the code never considers external clock). Even with Chess.com, we switch the clock locally and then correct it when Chess.com confirms sync. Meaning we do not hold turn changes currently. I guess we could divorce the turn aspect and the clock aspect - which would probably work best.
We can put this on the future features list for consideration. I do not know how many people are looking for clock integration so it would be important to hear more about that demand. I understand the use in terms of preparing for OTB chess federation/tournament play.
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I think it is not really an important feature. If you want to play with an external clock, just use any chess clock and setup the OTB game on the chessup with no time limit. So you just play with the external clock. What’s the point of connecting the clock with the board?
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what about just not using the clock when playing OTB and use the external clock no matter what, I don’t really understand the need of an integration. Either you have something automated when one moves a piece it change the clock or you do it manually but what’s the point of doing it manually with integration? I’m probably missing something but cannot tell what
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Yeah I am curious to hear - wouldn’t this work well?
The only thing missing would be the time steps in the PGN (game record) file.
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Yes, time stamps are missing, but it is OTB, and you don’t have time stamps when playing OTB. My last OTB opponent in our team championship made timestamp marks on the score sheet every 15 minutes. I have seen that for the first time.
An alternative to an external clock would be an internal clock where you have to tap on the touch screen after you made your move. That is pretty close to using an external clock, but you have timestamps on every move. That’s also a way to play clock move instead of touch move.
I did not use the Chessup app so far for playing OTB, so I don’'t know it it is in the app. What I know is, that my Chessnut boards, which only work with the app, I can setup the OTB games either to play with the clock automaticale switched after a move is made or to switch the clock manualy by tapping on the screen of the smartphone.
The screen is devided in 3 areas with the center area is showing the time for both players and the both edge parts are the tapping areas. I never used it that way, but I have seen it in Videos.
I think using a clock with an OTB game with no time limit would be excellent. It would also be a good idea to write down the moves, just like a tournament for classical chess.
Phil
This seems like a neat idea to be able to toggle in the settings.
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I may not fully understand, but doesn’t this undermine the system of placing a piece and the time immediately registering the move and changing to your opponent?
Why would there be reason for you to make a move and then not want the time changed immediately?
Maybe so you can practice for a separate-clock time-control game?
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This would be more for specific situations where you would be playing another person IRL over the board. Then it would be more like a tournament setting with a clock. Not really something for when playing on chess.com or Lichess
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Totally understand!
Thanks guys. 