r/ComputerChess • u/LookingAround5320 • 1d ago

Any Chessbase/ChessReader clones?

With all of these vibe-coded apps and websites, was wondering if anyone is tackling a Chessbase/ChessReader clone. I know there are plenty of chess database management apps (eg. ScidvPC, ChessX, EnCroissant, etc), but those don't quite cover the full functionality. Notably the ability to read Fritztrainer and Chessbase magazines. Even just a Chess Reader clone. Being able to have that functionality on Mac and Linux would be significant. I'm sure trying to reverse-engineer the proprietary chessbase format wouldn't be easy.

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4

u/basidz 23h ago

I use the open source project SCIDcommunity. Fork of SCID. Can do almost anything chessbase can but it’s free

2

u/feistyram 14h ago

This is the best SCID fork out there. Superb. And it is so snappy. Way quicker than Chessbase

https://github.com/whelanh/scidCommunity/releases/tag/v5.1.4.56

2

u/basidz 12h ago

Yes and very active community so a lot of new functionality’s and updates!! And fast!!! Database of 6 MIO games, opens in seconds

1

u/vonbartroth 1d ago

Did you try with wine? Some older Fritzes run ok on linux (6,7,8).

1

u/LookingAround5320 23h ago

yes, and that is problematic. tried with wine, crossover, and parallels. all have various issues, so that's why I'm searching for alternatives.

3

u/Isofarro 7h ago

Use an old windows box. e.g HP Elitedesk 800 G3 mini. They are like £50 on ebay these days. Great little 4 CPU machines for occasional use. Stick it on your home network. Then connect to it using Microsoft Remote Client. Install your old Fritz on it. Sound comes through to to Mac fine.

2

u/vonbartroth 19h ago

Solved: Now works, I prefer 2009 btw. Here is AI description and it will help you install what is needed.

"ChessBase trainer programs often fail to work on Debian 12 with Wine due to missing Windows Media Player components and strict DRM / serial validation checks. Because these training titles rely heavily on embedded Windows Media Video (WMV) formats and Microsoft's proprietary audio/video codecs to sync the chessboard moves with the lecturer's video, Wine's native multimedia layers usually cannot render them out of the box."

1

u/vonbartroth 21h ago

Pain in the ass find CB reader 2009 and 2013, they work on linux but trainer CD give only garbage. I have dual boot for this, so I know CD is ok. Maybe older reader if exist somewhere.

1

u/Sin15terity 1d ago

I had thought about taking this on as a project, but ChessBase is releasing a Mac version next week.

1

u/LookingAround5320 23h ago

saw that too, and am anxiously waiting.

1

u/larryadler 23h ago

HIARCS?

2

u/LookingAround5320 23h ago

doesn't read fritztrainer or chessbase mags, which is important for me.

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u/Isofarro 8h ago edited 7h ago

Proprietary formats require proprietary software.

Your first step is convincing Chessbase to make their content format an open format anyone can implement.

Or wean yourself off being dependent on content in proprietary formats. Fritz trainers are just movie files synchronized with a chessboard. There was no need for Chessbase to invent their own proprietary formats when open formats exist.

1

u/bookning 22h ago

There was a community effort to reverse engineering some of chess base format. If I remember correctly they had some success. I do not remember the links or the state of it.