V - DokChess

By Stefan Zörner.

“Someday computers will make us all obsolete.”

Robert (“Bobby”) Fisher, World Chess Champion 1972-1975, in 1975.

This chapter describes the architecture of the chess program DokChess. I originally created it as an example for presentations and training on software architecture and design. Later on, I implemented it in Java and refined it for a German book on documenting software architectures (see www.swadok.de). The source code is available on GitHub and more information, including this architectural overview in both English and German, can be found on www.dokchess.de.

With the following architectural overview, you will be able to understand the important design decisions of DokChess. It shows the requirements relevant to the structure and design, basic solutions to problems, the structure of the software and the interaction of key elements. The outline of the content follows the arc42 template.

The target audience of this architectural overview is primarily software architects seeking advice and examples on how to document architecture appropriately.

Software developers who plan to create a chess program of their own receive valuable tips and learn about software architecture too.