Python Hex

hex also implemented in Ruby

The goal in hex is simple. Red moves first, and each player alternates placing stones anywhere on the board. Red tries to form an unbroken chain of stones between top and bottom, blue between left and right. The first player to achieve an unbroken chain wins. Ties are mathematically impossible. While the rules are simple, the strategy is complex.

I have implemented an internet two-player hex game in the Python programming language. It uses Jabber, an open XML-based messaging system.

source hex.py
tarred source

Several steps are needed to set up this program:

Download a Jabber client, and use it to create a Jabber account. Recommend JabberFox on Mac OS X. Create 2 accounts if you want to converse with your opponent using Jabber instant messaging during the game (Hex gets very confused if more than one conversation is going on with the same user name...).
Download Python. On Mac OS X use Fink to install Python (WITH TK SUPPORT) and XDarwin. Yes, this is painful.
Download jabber.py Jabber connectivity library for Python.
Download hex.tar. Untar it.
From a terminal command prompt in the hex directory, type python hex.py yourUsername yourPassword opponentUsername
disclaimers: currently the application does not detect victory, must be restarted after each game, and does not handle network errors gracefully...
Python Hex has been tested on Mac OS X (Windows & Linux test not done yet). Have Fun.
and if anyone knows why Fink OS X XDarwin Python generates a Bus Error whenever more than one Tk application is run at the same time, I'd like to know...

Hex comes with Absolutely No Warranty. This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions (for details see:GNU General Public License, http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html)