A direct port of python-chess to TypeScript: @jacksonthall22/chess.ts

[jacksonthall22]

Hello python-chess! Firstly, thanks to @niklasf and all the rest of the authors and contributors for your great work. I have loved working with and learning from this library for several years now, in my former work for Aimchess.com and in my own chess-related projects.

Having started to explore JS/TS recently and finding its various options for chess libraries all to be lacking, I have started writing a direct port of python-chess to TypeScript. You can find it on GitHub and download it with npm i @jacksonthall22/chess.ts today!

There's still a long road map towards implementing everything python-chess has to offer. So far, I have fully implemented the logic from __init__.py and pgn.py to index.ts and pgn.ts respectively. Other corresponding files just have the minimal logic to make these two files work. Also, while I have tried diligently not to alter any logic, TS allows some scary behavior (to my Python brain) that has caused pernicious bugs that took me days to track down. I have manually tested the core functionality of classes like Board and Game, but an appropriate testing suite would clearly be a good next step to turn this into a stable library.

If anyone is feeling inspired to help contribute, I'm wondering if I could rally enough community support to be able to transpile engine.py to engine.ts. Personally, I am new enough to both TypeScript and Python threading concepts that I have no idea how to even approach this intricate task, though admittedly I have not tried digging into it yet. Maybe someday in the far future I will take on the challenge, but I would be happy to see someone else beat me to it.

Thanks again, and I hope someone will find this port useful. It's a great feeling to give a little bit back to the chess community which has given so much to me.

e4,
- Jackson