Boggle is a word game that requires mental agility and speed of thought. In the computer version it is no different, but has some added bonuses. You can connect to any boggle server currently running and compete with other players all over the world using the Internet.
Any reasonably up to date computer can run the game and the server.
The computer must have the Java interpreter 1.2.x or above installed. Older versions will not run the client part of boggle, but will be able to run the server.
TCP/IP has to be available for the client/server to communicate. The game will not run without this protocol.
To host a boggle server or to play on another boggle server the computer must have a network connection.
The boggle server is simple to run. The following command must be entered at the command prompt (or in the MSDOS prompt window for a PC).
%% java BoggleServer
This will initiate the server and start it running. To stop the server it must be killed. This is achieved by a CTRL-C at the prompt or if it is a background process (Linux, Unix etc.) by using the following command.
%% kill –9 [PID]
Where [PID]is the process identification number.
The boggle client is equally simple to use. To run the program the following command needs to be entered at the prompt.
%% java Boggle
This will run the boggle server with the game being hosted by a server on the current machine, localhost. This is performed by default, however it can be changed either as an menu option in the main program window or initially. This is done with the following command.
%% java Boggle [SERVER]
Where [SERVER] the boggle server, either as an IP address or by name, for example iodine.cs.bris.ac.uk.
Once the program has been initialised the main application window should appear. At this point there are a number of options:
On starting a new game a dialog appears prompting you for your player name. Then the game grid should appear and the timer will be started on the game will be started. The game can then be played.
Letters can be selected by clicking on them with the mouse. The current letter the mouse pointer is over is highlighted. Clicking with the left mouse button will add that letter to the current word or start a new word. The boggle game then works out which letters are now available to you to select. This is performed in accordance to the rules. Valid letters can be added until the current word is satisfactory. This word can then be submitted using the right mouse button. The word is then checked against the current dictionary with the score being increased if a valid word was submitted. The grid is then cleared and any letter is again selectable. This can continue until the time is up and a dialog displays the score.
This score is sent to the server for possible inclusion in the high score table for the particular grid and the main game window is once again displayed.
The current high scores for the grid to be played can be viewed at any time during the game. This table will always be the latest version at the time of display.
The server hosting the game can also be changed once the application is running, although not whilst a game is being played. The server name, either an IP address or string will be checked for validity and if acceptable then a new game can be initiated. Otherwise the user will be prompted for a valid server or cancel. The game will not run without a valid server.
To run Boggle client/server on the Suns, the following steps must be taken:
Change directory to ~eb7669/../public_html/Java/
To run the server change into the server directory within the current directory and enter the command specified above.
To run the client change into the client directory within the current directory and enter the command specified above.
Any comments on Boggle Client/Server or feedback can be directed to the author E.W. Buckney, at the following address
Email: eb7669@bris.ac.uk