Free Internet Chess Server: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Partida no FreeChess.png|thumb|upright=1.5|A chess game on '''FICS''' using an interface named [[Jin (chess interface)|Jin]]]]

The '''Free Internet Chess Server''' (FICS) is a volunteer-run [[Internetinternet chess server]]. It was organisedorganized asin aresponse freeto alternativethe tocommercialization of the [[original Internet Chess Club]]Server (ICCICS), after that site began charging for membership.<ref name=":1" />

==History==

{{stack|[[File:Free Internet Chess Server (banner).jpg|thumb|250px|FICS Banner.]]}}

In January 1992, Michael Moore of the [[University of Utah]] and Richard Nash started the first online service facilitating live chess games, the American Internet Chess Server (commonly known as the Internet Chess Server or ICS). The initial release, accessible via [[telnet]], was hosted at the University of Utah, but over its first two years it moved repeatedly across American universities, with additional servers opening and connecting to each other through Nash's Internet Ratings Server.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Petroff |first=Chris |date=2009-03-05 |title=History of the Internet Chess Server – Part I |url=http://members.cox.net/cpetroff/FICS/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313150500/http://members.cox.net/cpetroff/FICS/ |archive-date=2010-03-13 |access-date=2010-05-10}}</ref><ref name="fics10year"/><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Doggers |first=Peter |title=The Chess Revolution: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age |publisher=Puzzlewright |year=2024 |isbn=9781454959243}}</ref> The software was coded, supported, and operated by volunteers. [[Daniel Sleator]], professor of computer science at [[Carnegie Mellon University]], took over operation in July 1992 and improved the code. He announced plans to commercialize the service, copyrighted the code in 1994, and rebranded it as the Internet Chess Club (ICC) in 1995, charging membership fees.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.edcollins.com/chess/fics-icc.htm |title=Pawns Call King a Rook |first=Brad |last=Stone |access-date=2010-05-10 |date=2006-05-11 }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=November 1995 |title=Trapped in the (Inter) Net |url=https://www.chicagochessleague.org/cicl/bulls/history/Yr1995_96/Nov1995.pdf |website=The Chicago Chess Player}}</ref>

On {{start date and age|1992|1|15|df=y|paren=y}}, Michael Moore of the [[University of Utah]] and Richard Nash started the first [[Internet chess server]], named the American Internet Chess Server (AICS), but generally known as simply the Internet Chess Server (ICS). The initial release was hosted at the [[Colorado School of Mines]], but it was moved to [[Carnegie Mellon University]] later the same year.<ref name="fics10year"/>

Sleator's decision to commercialize the ICS was controversial, outraging members who felt the internet should be free and open, or who simply did not want to pay for a service which had been free.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hurst |first=Sarah |title=Chess on the Web |publisher=Batsford |year=1999 |isbn=9780713485776}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Several former ICS programmers saw the move as exploiting their work. On the day its rebranding was announced, programmers created a mailing list focused on developing an alternative, though work had been in progress, using Nash's original code, since Sleator initially revealed his commercialization plans.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> Several developers contributed, led by Nash, Henrik Gram, David Flynn, and Chris Petroff. The effort reacting to commercialization led to servers in several places around the world and in the United States, with the latter consolidating to form the Free Internet Chess Server, which launched on March 5, 1995.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name="fics10year">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freechess.org/Events/Anniversary/2005/index.html |title=FICS 10th Anniversary Celebrations |access-date=2010-05-10}}</ref> After a few months, it had 1,500 members.<ref name=":3" />

The software was coded, supported, and operated by volunteers until {{start date and age|1995|3|1|df=y|paren=y}}, when administrators{{who|date=April 2024}} began charging players for membership and changed the name to the [[Internet Chess Club|ICC]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.edcollins.com/chess/fics-icc.htm |title=Pawns Call King a Rook |first=Brad |last=Stone |access-date=2010-05-10 |date=2006-05-11 }}</ref>

In 1998, the Free Internet Chess Organization (FICS) was organized as a [[nonprofit organization]], although the formal entity was dissolved in 2007.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://gambiter.com/chess/online/Free_internet_chess_server.html|title=Free Internet Chess Server|website=gambiter.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-28}}</ref> The server is still maintained and administered by volunteers.<ref name=":0" />

Several former ICS programmers saw the commercialization of ICS as an exploitation of their work. This group, led by Chris Petroff and Henrik Gram, developed FICS as an alternative to the paid model, giving users free, unrestricted access. The server debuted on {{start date and age|1995|3|3|df=y|paren=y}}, just two days after the ICC announcement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.cox.net/cpetroff/FICS/ |title=History of the Internet Chess Server – Part I |first=Chris |last=Petroff |date=2009-03-05 |access-date=2010-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313150500/http://members.cox.net/cpetroff/FICS/ |archive-date=2010-03-13 }}</ref><ref name="fics10year">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freechess.org/Events/Anniversary/2005/index.html |title=FICS 10th Anniversary Celebrations |access-date=2010-05-10}}</ref>

FICS never matched the popularity of ICC, but as of August 2014, it had over 650,000 registered accounts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Menn |first=Joseph |title=All the Rave: The Rise and Fall of Shawn Fanning's Napster |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |year=2003 |isbn=9781400050062}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In 2016, 50,000 active players played a total of 23 million games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ficsgames.org/2013_stats.html |title=FICS Games Database – Statistics for 2013 |access-date=2014-08-03 }}</ref>

In 1998, the Free Internet Chess Organization (FICS) was organized as a [[nonprofit organization]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://gambiter.com/chess/online/Free_internet_chess_server.html|title=Free Internet Chess Server|website=gambiter.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-28}}</ref>

In a 2024 book, Peter Doggers drew a comparison between the FICS and ICC rivalry and the later Lichess vs. Chess.com rivalry, with one side committed to free and open principles and the other offering more features for a fee.<ref name=":3" />

In 2007, the legal entity was involuntarily dissolved.{{clarifyme|date=April 2024}} The server is still maintained and administered by volunteers.<ref name=":0" />

As of August 2014, FICS had over 650,000 registered accounts.<ref name=":0" />

In 2016, 50,000 active players played a total of 23 million games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ficsgames.org/2013_stats.html |title=FICS Games Database – Statistics for 2013 |access-date=2014-08-03 }}</ref>

==Usage==

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===Connecting===

[[File:babaschesssmallcrop.jpg|thumb|250px|FICS using BabasChess interface]]

Playing chess on FICS requires connecting to the server either through a web-based applet on the [http://www.freechess.org FICS website] or else by using a [[client (computing)|client]] program, which could be as simple as a [[telnet]] client, but is usually an [[graphical user interface|interface]] designed specifically for playing Internet chess.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freechess.org/Help/QuickGuide/index.html |title=FICS QuickGuide : Graphical Interfaces |access-date=2010-05-10}}</ref> Users can log in either as an anonymous guest or else by registering for a free account. Each user is permitted only one account. The server maintains rating and game statistics for registered users. FICS uses the [[Glicko rating system]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freechess.org/Help/HelpFiles/glicko.html |title=Vek-splanation of the Glicko Ratings System |author=vek/glickman|access-date=2010-05-10}}</ref>

===Gameplay===

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===Interfaces===

[[File:Mobila Chess Layout.png|thumb|300x300px|Mobile Interface]]

FICS is designedaccessible tovia betelnet accessedand bywas atext-only chessby interfacedefault. designedWhereas toICC connecthas todedicated, Internetproprietary chessgraphical servers. Interfaces are created independently.interfaces, FICS does not have an official interface andsoftware. doesSeveral nothave endorsebeen anydeveloped, interface.starting Thewith mostXICS popular interfaces forand [[Microsoft Windows|WindowsXBoard]], areand expanding to include [[BabasChessXBoard|WinBoard]], BabasChess, Jin, [[XBoard]]Thief, Raptor, eboard, [[Thief (chess)|ThiefPyChess]], and RaptorJavaBoard.<ref name=":0" /> Mobialia Chess is the most common platform for mobile operating systems Android and IOS.

On other operating systems (mainly Unix-type boxes based on Linux or macOS), eboard, [[XBoard]], [[PyChess]], Jin, JavaBoard, and Raptor are popular choices. JavaBoard, JinApplet, and QXBoard are web interfaces that run in a web browser.<ref name=":0" />

In 2017, the [https://www.freechess.club Free Chess Club] open-source project released a web-based client targeted towards modern web browsers using [[JavaScript]], [[HTML5]] and [[WebSockets]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freechess.club/ |title=Home |website=freechess.club}}</ref> In addition to a web interface, Free Chess Club provides a cross-platform desktop application that runs on [[Linux]], [[macOS]] and [[Windows]].

===Channels===