My Journey into Developing a Weiqi (Go) Game

Weiqi, also known as Go, is an ancient board game that has fascinated players for centuries. Its elegant simplicity hides deep strategic complexity, which makes it one of the most challenging games to master. I decided to create a digital version of this game, and in this post, I want to share my experience and insights gained during the development process.

Inspiration Behind the Project

As a passionate software developer and a fan of Go, I wanted to combine my love for programming with my admiration for this game. The goal was to create a modern and user-friendly online platform where players could enjoy Go in real-time.

The Tech Stack

For this project, I decided to use the following technologies:

• Next.js: To leverage server-side rendering and seamless frontend-backend integration.
• WebSockets: For real-time communication to handle player moves.
• PostgreSQL: As the database to store user information, game states, and match history.
• Docker: For a consistent and isolated development environment.
• Tailwind CSS: To design a clean and responsive user interface.

Key Features of the Game

1. Real-Time Gameplay: Players can connect and play with minimal latency.
2. Modern UI/UX: The interface is designed to emulate the feel of a traditional Go board while maintaining a sleek digital aesthetic.
3. Responsive Design: The game is fully functional on both desktop and mobile devices.
4. Match Replay: Users can review their games to analyze strategies and learn from mistakes.
5. Customizable Game Rules: Support for various rule sets, such as Chinese and Japanese.

Challenges Faced

Implementing Real-Time Functionality

One of the biggest hurdles was ensuring that moves made by one player were immediately reflected on their opponent's screen. WebSockets proved to be a reliable solution, but managing concurrent sessions and ensuring consistency required significant effort.

Designing the Board

Creating a realistic and intuitive board design was another challenge. I used Tailwind CSS for styling and spent a considerable amount of time fine-tuning the appearance of the stones and grid.

Handling Game Logic

The game logic, including move validation, capturing stones, and detecting endgame scenarios, was both rewarding and challenging to implement. I ensured that the rules could be easily extended to accommodate different variations of Go.

Lessons Learned

1. Plan Before Coding: A clear blueprint of the features and architecture saved me from unnecessary headaches later.
2. Start Small: Building the core gameplay first and then iterating helped me stay focused.
3. Embrace Feedback: Early feedback from testers was invaluable in refining the game.

Future Plans

I’m excited to continue enhancing this project. Upcoming features include:

• AI Opponent: For players who want to practice solo.
• Tournament Mode: To host competitive matches.
• Community Features: Adding chat and forums for players to interact.

Conclusion

Developing this Go game has been a fulfilling journey that combined my technical skills with my love for the game. I’m thrilled to share it with the Go community and look forward to seeing it grow.