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Difference between revisions of "Software"

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(Tournament management: Removed link to Marc Levesque's Director! program (at ML's request))
(Licensed software: 2021-02-15 - Added Spelling Beat)
(46 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
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'''Software''' plays an increasing role in organized [[SCRABBLE]]® activities.   
+
'''Software''' plays a major role in organized [[SCRABBLE]]® activities.   
 +
 
 
[[NASPA]]'s [[Web Committee]] offers web hosting space to software developers,  
 
[[NASPA]]'s [[Web Committee]] offers web hosting space to software developers,  
and works with them to develop standards.  The [[Technology Committee]] evaluates software for use at tournaments and clubs.
+
and works with them to develop standards.   
  
Note: the Technology Committee does not evaluate or endorse the various study tools available, but has provided a list here for information purposes only.
+
The [[Technology Committee]] evaluates and certifies word judge software for use at tournaments and clubs.  
  
== Tournament and club software ==
+
NASPA also [[Licensing |licenses]] the [[NASPA Word List]] and [[School SCRABBLE Word List 2018 | NASPA School Word List]] for use by developers. Please
 +
[[contact]] us if you would like to use our word list in your application.
  
=== Word judge (software self lookup) ===
+
Certification and licensing are separate processes; software may be either, neither, or both. Uncertified, unlicensed software is listed here only for information purposes, and not as an endorsement.
 +
 
 +
== Certified word judge software ==
  
 
NASPA recommends that [[tournaments]] and [[clubs]] use laptops running word adjudication software to process  
 
NASPA recommends that [[tournaments]] and [[clubs]] use laptops running word adjudication software to process  
 
challenges in competitive games.  The following Software Self Lookup (SSL) programs were evaluated by the [[Technology Committee]] and are approved for use in club and tournament situations as noted below.
 
challenges in competitive games.  The following Software Self Lookup (SSL) programs were evaluated by the [[Technology Committee]] and are approved for use in club and tournament situations as noted below.
  
; [[Zyzzyva]]
+
=== [[Zyzzyva]] ===
: developed by [[Michael Thelen]], is used at all major events, including the [[National SCRABBLE Championship]], [[National School SCRABBLE Championship]] and [[Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship]]
+
* '''Features''': anagramming, definitions, word judge, word study
: Requirements: Windows or MAC
+
* '''Developers''': [[Michael Thelen]], [[Ross Brown]]
: Acceptable for tournament and club play
+
* '''Systems''': Linux, macOS, Windows
 +
* '''Notes''': certified and licensed, used at all major events,including the [[National SCRABBLE Championship]], [[National School SCRABBLE Championship]] and [[Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship]]
 +
 
 +
=== [http://www.wolfberg.net/what/ WHAT] ===
 +
* '''Features''': anagramming, word judge
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Michael Wolfberg|Mike Wolfberg]]
 +
* '''System''': Windows
 +
* '''Notes''': Certified and licensed. Stands for "Wolfberg's Helpful Anagramming Tool".
 +
 
 +
== Tournament management software ==
 +
 
 +
Tournament management software assists the director in pairing players, recording game results, generating pairing reports and standings for printing, and generating final tournament data for submission to NASPA for rating of tournaments. There is not yet a certification process for this category of software.
  
; [http://www.wolfberg.net/what/ '''WHAT''']
+
There is at least one popular software package not listed below, at the request of its publisher.
: developed by [[Mike Wolfberg]]
 
: Requirements: Windows
 
: Acceptable for tournament and club play
 
  
; [http://www.metagrams.com// '''WordJudge''']
+
=== [[tsh]] ===
: developed by [[John Babina]]
+
* '''Features''': tournament management, word judge
: Requirements: Requires bootable floppy drive
+
* '''Developer''': [[John Chew]]
: Acceptable for tournament and club play
+
* '''Systems''': DOS, Linux, macOS and Windows.
 +
* '''Notes''': used at all major events, including the [[National SCRABBLE Championship]], [[National School SCRABBLE Championship]] and [[Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship]].  It has a very rich set of features, but most directors need some help at first learning to use its command-line interface.
  
; [[Lexpert]] (No longer available but previous versions exist)
+
== Licensed software ==
: developed by [[M.G. Ravichandran]]
 
: Requirements: Windows, Windows CE
 
: Acceptable for club play only
 
  
=== Tournament management ===
+
The following software contain licensed copies of NASPA word lists, but have not been certified for competitive use.
  
Tournament management software assists the director in pairing players, recording game results, generating pairing reports and standings for printing, and generating final tournament data for submission to NASPA for rating of tournaments.
+
=== [https://aerolith.org/ Aerolith] ===
 +
* '''Features''': word study
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Cesar Del Solar | César Del Solar]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists. Features competitive high-score lists.
  
; [[tsh]]
+
=== [http://www.seattlephysicstutor.com/anagrams.html Anagrams] ===
: developed by [[John Chew]], is used at all major events, including the [[National SCRABBLE Championship]], [[National School SCRABBLE Championship]] and [[Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship]].  It has a very rich set of features, but most directors need some help at first learning to use it.  tsh runs under OS/X, Linux, DOS and Windows.
+
* '''Features''': single- or multi-player anagramming game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Chris Grubb]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Windows, Mac OS X
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [[TMENU]]
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=== [https://safe-dusk-44647.herokuapp.com/ Anagrams Blitz] ===
: developed by [[RA Fontes]], is also widely used in the United States but no longer distributed. TMENU requires DOS or Windows.
+
* '''Features''': single- or multi-player anagramming game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Carl Johnson]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [[TourneyMan]]
+
=== [http://www.tylerhosting.com/hoot/ Hoot] ===
: developed by [[Jeff Widergren]], formerly used at the [[National SCRABBLE Championship]] and still widely used in the United States. It has a limited set of features but is relatively easy to learn. TourneyMan requires Windows.
+
* '''Features''': anagramming, word judge, word study, game timer
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Dana Bell]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Android, Windows
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.
  
== Study tools ==
+
=== [http://www.quackle.org Quackle] ===
 +
* '''Features''': anagramming, game analysis, game play
 +
* '''Developers''': [[Jason Katz-Brown]], [[John O'Laughlin]], [[John Fultz]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Linux, macOS, Windows
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed. Strongest SCRABBLE playing program in the world. It is used by many players for training, and to analyze their games to improve their future play.
  
Note: the Technology Committee does not evaluate or endorse the various study tools available, but has provided a list here for information purposes only.
+
=== [https://www.facebook.com/ScrabbleGO SCRABBLE GO] ===
 +
* '''Features''': Mobile SCRABBLE game licensed by Hasbro and Mattel
 +
* '''Developer''': [https://scopely.com/ Scopely]
 +
* '''System''': [https://scrb.ly/naspa Android, iOS, and Web]
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
=== Game analysis ===
+
=== [https://smartword.io/ Smart Word] ===
 +
* '''Features''': multi-player word game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Vladimir Muzyka]]
 +
* '''System''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://www.quackle.org Quackle]
+
=== [https://spellingbeat.com/ Spelling Beat] ===
: developed by [[Jason Katz-Brown]] and [[John O'Laughlin]], is the strongest SCRABBLE playing program in the world. It is used by many players for training, and to analyze their games to improve their future play.
+
* '''Features''': solver for popular spelling puzzle
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Brad Greenlee]]
 +
* '''System''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; Maven
+
=== [https://snatch.cc/ Snatch!] ===
: developed by [[Brian Sheppard]], is also a strong program, but was withdrawn from the market when its rights were sold to [[Hasbro]].  Sheppard continues to develop the program, a branch of which was available briefly from Hasbro in CD-ROM form.
+
* '''Features''': single- or multi-player anagramming game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Jay Chan]]  
 +
* '''System''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; ACBot
+
=== [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ulu-ultimate-lookup-utility/id1281832323 ULU] ===
: developed by [[James Cherry]], and used to provide game analyses to users of DOoM servers, is no longer available.
+
* '''Features''': anagramming, game timer, word judge
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Seth Lipkin]]
 +
* '''System''': iOS
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.
  
=== Anagramming and word lookup tools ===
+
=== [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dabbssolutions.ScrabbleTimer.WaliTimer&hl=en&gl=US Wali Timer] ===
 +
* '''Features''': anagramming, game timer, word judge
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Wali Khubaib]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Android
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.
  
; [http://cowboyprogramming.com/2008/07/06/checkword/ CHECKWORD]
+
=== [https://woogles.io Woogles] ===
: app for the iPhone that anagrams letters to find words. Also has a word judge feature (that has not yet been authorized by the [[Technology Committee]] for offical use at tournaments or clubs).
+
* '''Features''': game play
: System: iPhone
+
* '''Developer''': [[Cesar Del Solar | César Del Solar]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://members.shaw.ca/lampwords/ LAMPWords]
+
=== [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-checker-easy-judge/id1419607257 Word Checker: Easy Judge] ===
: developed by [[Paul Sidorsky]], runs on Palm devices. No longer actively being developed, it is still an excellent program to search for words for a given rack or set of tiles. Also has a word judge feature (that has not yet been authorized by the [[Technology Committee]] for offical use at tournaments or clubs).
+
* '''Features''': word judge
: System: Palm
+
* '''Developer''': [[Fabien Maurice]]
 +
* '''Systems''': [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wordchecker Android], [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-checker-easy-judge/id1419607257 iOS]
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool.
  
; [[Lexpert]]
+
=== [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-expert-word-game-tool/id1437814395 Word Expert] ===
: developed by [[M.G. Ravichandran]], anagramming and study tools. No longer supported or easily available, but a Windows version is available at [http://www.valuecube.com/lexpert www.valuecube.com/lexpert].
+
* '''Features''': anagramming
: Systems: Windows, Windows CE (palm-pc)
+
* '''Developer''': [[Fabien Maurice]]
 +
* '''Systems''': iOS
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://www.wolfberg.net/what/ '''WHAT''']
+
=== [https://wordit.app/ Wordit] ===
: developed by [[Mike Wolfberg]], Wolfberg's Helpful Anagramming Tool. Also authorized SSL word judge for tournaments and clubs.
+
* '''Features''': word game
: System:  Windows
+
* '''Developer''': [[Rob Johansen]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [[Zyzzyva]]
+
=== [http://www.wordupdude.com/ Word Up Dude] ===
: developed by [[Michael Thelen]], allows a variety of word lookup methods, includes definitions, cardbox studying, quizzes, etc.  Also authorized SSL word judge for tournaments and clubs.
+
* '''Features''': word game
: Systems supported: Windows, MAC, Linux, etc.
+
* '''Developer''': [[Timothy Gardner|Tim Gardner]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Android, iOS
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists in its own word game.
  
=== Dictionaries ===
+
== Unlicensed software ==
  
; Franklin Electronic Dictionary
+
The following software is neither certified nor licensed, but may be of interest to our
: available at [[Word Gear]] and other stores for approximately $50, allows lookup and definition of OSPD4 words.  Use a password to unlock OWL2 words (no definitions for them). NOT authorized for word judging (no multiple work lookup and wordlist hasn't been verified).
+
members.
: Dictionary: OSPD4/OWL2
 
: System: standalone device.
 
  
; [http://www.absoluteword.com/ RoadLingua]
+
=== [http://www.poslarchive.com/math/software/qz/ qz] ===
: application for Palm devices that allows upload of OSPD4 definitions (and OWL2 for words 8-letters or less).  Free version interrupts with a registration pop-up every few lookups--pay $10 and that goes away.
+
* '''Features''': word study
: Dictionary: OSPD4/OWL2 (others available)
+
* '''Developer''': [[John Chew]]
: System: Palm OS, Windows Mobile
+
* '''Systems''': Linux, macOS, Windows
 +
* '''Notes''': Unlicensed. Generic flashcarding tool intended for word study, does not ship with word lists, supports bulk input of quiz text files
  
; [http://app.weiphone.com/wedict/ WeDict Pro]
+
== Legacy Software ==
: app for iPhone devices that allows upload of OSPD4 definitions (and OWL2 for words 8-letters or less).  Price $5.99 for app (OSPD4 dictionary available free). [It's little tricky to download.  From inside WeDict Pro, you must click on Download Dictionaries, then Download from URL, and then TYPE in the url "http://app.weiphone.com/wedict/upload/files/TWL2-8.zip" (don't click on this link--that won't work).  It might take a while and you might have to do it twice.  Good luck.]
 
: Dictionary: OSPD4/OWL2 (others available)
 
: System: iPhone
 
  
; [[Zyzzyva]]
+
Software that is no longer actively supported, or has not been updated to current
: Includes definitions along with word list and study tools.
+
standards, can be found in a separate list of [[legacy software]].
: Dictionary: OSPD4/OWL2, OSW, ODS4
 
: Systems supported: Windows, MAC, Linux, etc.
 

Revision as of 17:23, 15 February 2021

Software plays a major role in organized SCRABBLE® activities.

NASPA's Web Committee offers web hosting space to software developers, and works with them to develop standards.

The Technology Committee evaluates and certifies word judge software for use at tournaments and clubs.

NASPA also licenses the NASPA Word List and NASPA School Word List for use by developers. Please contact us if you would like to use our word list in your application.

Certification and licensing are separate processes; software may be either, neither, or both. Uncertified, unlicensed software is listed here only for information purposes, and not as an endorsement.

Certified word judge software

NASPA recommends that tournaments and clubs use laptops running word adjudication software to process challenges in competitive games. The following Software Self Lookup (SSL) programs were evaluated by the Technology Committee and are approved for use in club and tournament situations as noted below.

Zyzzyva

WHAT

  • Features: anagramming, word judge
  • Developer: Mike Wolfberg
  • System: Windows
  • Notes: Certified and licensed. Stands for "Wolfberg's Helpful Anagramming Tool".

Tournament management software

Tournament management software assists the director in pairing players, recording game results, generating pairing reports and standings for printing, and generating final tournament data for submission to NASPA for rating of tournaments. There is not yet a certification process for this category of software.

There is at least one popular software package not listed below, at the request of its publisher.

tsh

Licensed software

The following software contain licensed copies of NASPA word lists, but have not been certified for competitive use.

Aerolith

  • Features: word study
  • Developer: César Del Solar
  • Systems: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists. Features competitive high-score lists.

Anagrams

  • Features: single- or multi-player anagramming game
  • Developer: Chris Grubb
  • Systems: Windows, Mac OS X
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Anagrams Blitz

  • Features: single- or multi-player anagramming game
  • Developer: Carl Johnson
  • Systems: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Hoot

  • Features: anagramming, word judge, word study, game timer
  • Developer: Dana Bell
  • Systems: Android, Windows
  • Notes: Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.

Quackle

  • Features: anagramming, game analysis, game play
  • Developers: Jason Katz-Brown, John O'Laughlin, John Fultz
  • Systems: Linux, macOS, Windows
  • Notes: Licensed. Strongest SCRABBLE playing program in the world. It is used by many players for training, and to analyze their games to improve their future play.

SCRABBLE GO

  • Features: Mobile SCRABBLE game licensed by Hasbro and Mattel
  • Developer: Scopely
  • System: Android, iOS, and Web
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Smart Word

  • Features: multi-player word game
  • Developer: Vladimir Muzyka
  • System: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Spelling Beat

  • Features: solver for popular spelling puzzle
  • Developer: Brad Greenlee
  • System: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Snatch!

  • Features: single- or multi-player anagramming game
  • Developer: Jay Chan
  • System: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

ULU

  • Features: anagramming, game timer, word judge
  • Developer: Seth Lipkin
  • System: iOS
  • Notes: Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.

Wali Timer

  • Features: anagramming, game timer, word judge
  • Developer: Wali Khubaib
  • Systems: Android
  • Notes: Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.

Woogles

  • Features: game play
  • Developer: César Del Solar
  • Systems: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Word Checker: Easy Judge

  • Features: word judge
  • Developer: Fabien Maurice
  • Systems: Android, iOS
  • Notes: Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool.

Word Expert

  • Features: anagramming
  • Developer: Fabien Maurice
  • Systems: iOS
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Wordit

  • Features: word game
  • Developer: Rob Johansen
  • Systems: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Word Up Dude

  • Features: word game
  • Developer: Tim Gardner
  • Systems: Android, iOS
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists in its own word game.

Unlicensed software

The following software is neither certified nor licensed, but may be of interest to our members.

qz

  • Features: word study
  • Developer: John Chew
  • Systems: Linux, macOS, Windows
  • Notes: Unlicensed. Generic flashcarding tool intended for word study, does not ship with word lists, supports bulk input of quiz text files

Legacy Software

Software that is no longer actively supported, or has not been updated to current standards, can be found in a separate list of legacy software.