App_LiveGames

live games app

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warning: the live games app has been discontinued

The pgn4web live games app is relying on a number of technologies under development; unfortunately some of those technologies have been deprecated, such as the AppCache specification; soon, withdrawal of the associated functionality will likely prevent the pgn4web live games app to work properly in the most recent version of major browsers. In addition, some unresolved bugs in major mobile platform also undermine a correct app behaviour, such as this iOS screen refresh bug.

As a result, the pgn4web live games app is deprecated with discontinued development: the current pgn4web live games app might not work correctly for your device and should not be deployed in a production environment; as of April 2020 the pgn4web live games app is not included in pgn4web package updates; the pgn4web live games app code remains in the history of the pgn4web repository only as a starting point for future development and upgrades.

As of April 2023, some of the live games app functionality has been added to the dynamic frame and the live fullscreen dynamic frame that allow for implementation of shortcuts and desktop icons for a fullscreen web app version of the dynamic frame.

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functionality

The pgn4web live games app provides lives games from top players at major current events.

The app works with any modern web browser, with specific features optimized for mobile platforms (see notes about touch gestures for supported touchscreen devices and see notes about installation on various mobile/tablet devices).

The app provides three views:

• the live games view showing the chosen live game with real time updates
• the game list view showing the list of available live games
• the analysis view for exploring variations and providing engine analysis

The app periodically checks the live games server for new moves and for new games; when connectivity to the live games server is not available (such as when a mobile device temporarily lost connectivity to its wireless network) cached information is presented; aged cached information is highlighted with an x mark next to the live status indicator (the 6 = 10 line in the screenshots, meaning 10 games available of which 6 currently in progress); a plus mark in the live status indicator means that the live broadcast automatic games refresh has been paused; an hash mark in the live status indicator means that the live broadcast has ended.

The pgn4web live games server used by default by the live games app is provided on a best effort basis, with no with no guarantee of future availability; before using this online service, please read the service availability disclaimer note.

screenshots

The following screenshots show the live games app running fullscreen on an Apple iPhone.

live games view in landscape mode

games list view in landscape mode

live games view in portrait mode

**analysis view in portrait mode **

user interface

The user interface supports:

• shortcut keys
• shortcut squares
• touch gestures
• hyperlinks actions

shortcut keys

Shortcut keys are consistent with the general pgn4web functionality; more info available from the pgn4web help file.

Notable shortcut keys for the live games view (more listed in the pgn4web help file):

• esc: open the pgn4web help file
• h, l: game start, end (also arrow-up, arrow-down)
• j, k: move backward, forward (also arrow-left, arrow-right)
• u: undo last chessboard position update (also del)
• v, m: load first, last game
• b, n: load previous, next game
• g: toggle highlighting

shortcut squares

Shortcut keys and shortcut squares are consistent with the general pgn4web functionality; hover the mouse on each square for a tooltip about the associated action; more info available from the pgn4web help file.

Notable shortcut squares for the live games view (squares labeled assuming White on bottom):

• click/tap square H8 to open the pgn4web help file
• click/tap square E8 to open the analysis view
• click/tap square E7 to toggle ECO code
• click/tap square D7 to toggle highlight last move
• click/tap square H6 to force live broadcast games refresh
• click/tap square B6 to restart live broadcast automatic games refresh
• click/tap square A6 to pause live broadcast automatic games refresh
• click/tap square H5 to reset app (customized settings, games data and engine analysis data)

Full list of shortcut squares in the pgn4web help file.

Default shortcut squares are not available for the analysis view that uses shortcut squares for moves entry instead.

touch gestures

Touch gestures, when available on supported touchscreen devices, are specific to each view:

• live games view touch gestures
  • touch gestures across the chessboard perform the usual pgn4web functions:
    • top-down swipe: load next game, cycling through
    • bottom-up swipe: load previous game, cycling through
    • left-right swipe: start autoplay; if autoplay already active: go to variation end or to game end
    • right-left swipe: stop autoplay; if autoplay not active: go to variation start, then to parent variation, then to game start; if at last move of live broadcast: replay up to 6 previous half-moves, then autoplay forward
  • touch gestures across the game info text area are also enabled:
    • top-down swipe: open/update analysis board
    • bottom-up swipe: show games list
    • left-right swipe: move forward
    • right-left swipe: move backward
• games list view touch gestures
  • games list swipe: games list scroll
  • right-left swipe on the top header row: games list horizontal scroll
  • left-right swipe on the top header row: return to game
• analysis view touch gestures
  • touch gestures across the chessboard perform these functions:
    • top-down swipe: go to variation end
    • bottom-up swipe: go to variation start
    • left-right swipe: move forward
    • right-left swipe: move backward
  • touch gestures across the analysis info text area are also enabled:
    • top-down swipe: close analysis board and return to game
    • bottom-up swipe: switch side to move
    • left-right swipe: play engine move
    • right-left swipe: close analysis board and return to game

hyperlinks actions

Hyperlinks actions are specific to each view:

• live games view hyperlinks actions
  • click/tap the event names to search for the next event
  • click/tap a player's name to open a new browser window searching for the player in the FIDE ratings database
  • click/tap the live status indicator to force a refresh of the live games
  • click/tap the dotted line at the bottom to open the games list view
• games list view hyperlinks actions
  • click/tap the return character in the top line to return to the live games view
  • click/tap the arrow characters in the top line (if present) to scroll the game lists to the first, previous, next and last page
  • click/tap a game line to select the game into the live games view
• analysis view hyperlinks actions
  • click/tap the from/to squares to enter a move on the chessboard and try a variation
  • click/tap the arrow characters underneath the chessboard to move to the start, backward, forward and to the end of the entered variation
  • click/tap the side to move indicator to switch the side to move, allowing to evaluate immediate threats
  • click/tap the engine's principal variation moves to enter the first move on the chessboard
  • click/tap the game evaluation symbol to toggle the engine analysis on/off

installation

An app installation URL might be provided, with instructions specific to each platform.

If an installation URL is not available, the following notes provide some guidance.

The live games app works with any recent web browser supporting the HTML5 standards for local storage and application cache functionality.

To start the live games app on any supported web browser, simply bookmark and open the app URL.

Some mobile platforms allow for additional functionality and enhanced integration with the mobile device:

• iOS installation: iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod) allow for the creation of an app icon on the home screen; when started from the home screen icon, the app runs fullscreen with more space available to display the chessboard (see screenshots). In order to create the app icon:
  • open the app URL on a new page of the safari browser
  • tap on the action menu button
  • select the "add to home screen" action
• android installation: android devices (phones and tablets) allow for the creation of an app shortcut on the home screen:
  • open the app URL on a new tab of the google chrome browser
  • tap on the action overflow button and select the "add to home screen" action
• Open Web App installation: the Firefox browser and FirefoxOS devices allow for the creation of an app icon on the start menu, on the desktop or on the home screen:
  • open the app URL and start the app installation script
  • the app icon should appear on the start menu, on the desktop or on the home screen

For any other platform, both on mobile devices and on destop/laptop computers:

• open the app URL on a new page of the browser
• bookmark the URL
• open the newly created bookmark and use the app from the browser
• optionally, if available from the browser, use a command like "add app, site or shortcut to apps, desktop, home, menu, shelf, start or taskbar" in order to add the app icon to your system

customizations

The pgn4web live games app has been designed to facilitate customization for specific events, tournaments or matches. Any webmaster/developer interested to provide a live games app for their event should contact the pgn4web project for further instructions.