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Difference between revisions of "Software"

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(Licensed software: 2021-03-29 - Added WordBirdFun)
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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.
+
and works with them to develop standards
 +
 
 +
The [[Technology Committee]] evaluates and certifies word judge software for use at tournaments and clubs.
 +
 
 +
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.
 +
 
 +
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]] ===
 +
* '''Features''': anagramming, definitions, word judge, word study
 +
* '''Developers''': [[Michael Thelen]], [[Ross Brown]]
 +
* '''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.
 +
 
 +
There is at least one popular software package not listed below, at the request of its publisher.
 +
 
 +
=== [[tsh]] ===
 +
* '''Features''': tournament management, word judge
 +
* '''Developer''': [[John Chew]]
 +
* '''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.
 +
 
 +
== Licensed software ==
 +
 
 +
The following software contain licensed copies of NASPA word lists, but have not been certified for competitive use.
  
== Study Tools ==
+
=== [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.
  
=== Game analysis ===
+
=== [http://www.seattlephysicstutor.com/anagrams.html Anagrams] ===
 +
* '''Features''': single- or multi-player anagramming game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Chris Grubb]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Windows, Mac OS X
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://www.quackle.org Quackle]
+
=== [https://safe-dusk-44647.herokuapp.com/ Anagrams Blitz] ===
: 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''': single- or multi-player anagramming game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Carl Johnson]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; Maven
+
=== [http://crosswordislandhopper.com Crossword Island Hopper] ===
: 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''': multi-player crossword game with many types of boards
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Will Dumaresq]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; ACBot
+
=== [http://www.tylerhosting.com/hoot/ Hoot] ===
: developed by [[James Cherry]], and used to provide game analyses to users of DOoM servers, is no longer available.
+
* '''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.
  
=== Anagramming and Word lookup 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.
  
; [[Zyzzyva]]
+
=== [https://www.facebook.com/ScrabbleGO SCRABBLE GO] ===
: 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''': Mobile SCRABBLE game licensed by Hasbro and Mattel
: Systems supported: Windows, MAC, Linux, etc.
+
* '''Developer''': [https://scopely.com/ Scopely]
 +
* '''System''': [https://scrb.ly/naspa Android, iOS, and Web]
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://www.wolfberg.net/what/ '''WHAT''']
+
=== [https://smartword.io/ Smart Word] ===
: developed by [[Mike Wolfberg]], Wolfberg's Helpful Anagramming Tool. Also authorized SSL word judge for tournaments and clubs.
+
* '''Features''': multi-player word game
: System:  Windows
+
* '''Developer''': [[Vladimir Muzyka]]
 +
* '''System''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [[Lexpert]] (No longer available but previous versions exist)
+
=== [https://spellingbeat.com/ Spelling Beat] ===
: developed by [[M.J. Ravichandran]], anagramming and study tools
+
* '''Features''': solver for popular spelling puzzle
: Systems: Windows, Windows CE (palm-pc)
+
* '''Developer''': [[Brad Greenlee]]
 +
* '''System''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://members.shaw.ca/lampwords/ LAMPWords]
+
=== [https://snatch.cc/ Snatch!] ===
: 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''': single- or multi-player anagramming game
: System: Palm
+
* '''Developer''': [[Jay Chan]]  
 +
* '''System''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; CHECKWORD
+
=== [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ulu-ultimate-lookup-utility/id1281832323 ULU] ===
: 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''': anagramming, game timer, word judge
: System: iPhone
+
* '''Developer''': [[Seth Lipkin]]
 +
* '''System''': iOS
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool or game timer.
  
== Tournament and club software ==
+
=== [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.
  
=== Word judge (software self lookup) ===
+
=== [https://woogles.io Woogles] ===
 +
* '''Features''': game play
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Cesar Del Solar | César Del Solar]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
NASPA recommends that [[tournaments]] and [[clubs]] use laptops running word adjudication software to process
+
=== [http://wordbird.fun/ WordBirdFun] ===
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.
+
* '''Features''': multi-player word search game
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Ky MacPherson | Ky MacPherson]]
 +
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
 +
 
 +
=== [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pisanu.scrabblechecker Word Checker by Pisanu] ===
 +
* '''Features''': word judge
 +
* '''Developer''': [[Pisanu Chaloemrattanaporn]]
 +
* '''Systems''': Android
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool.
 +
 
 +
=== [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-checker-easy-judge/id1419607257 Word Checker: Easy Judge] ===
 +
* '''Features''': word judge
 +
* '''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.
  
; [[Zyzzyva]]
+
=== [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/word-expert-word-game-tool/id1437814395 Word Expert] ===
: 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
: Requirements: Windows or MAC
+
* '''Developer''': [[Fabien Maurice]]
: Acceptable for tournament and club play
+
* '''Systems''': iOS
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://www.wolfberg.net/what/ '''WHAT''']
+
=== [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pisanu.scrabbleexpert.free Word Expert by Pisanu] ===
: developed by [[Mike Wolfberg]]
+
* '''Features''': anagramming
: Requirements: Windows
+
* '''Developer''': [[Pisanu Chaloemrattanaporn]]
: Acceptable for tournament and club play
+
* '''Systems''': Android
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [http://www.metagrams.com// '''WordJudge''']
+
=== [https://wordit.app/ Wordit] ===
: developed by [[John Babina]]
+
* '''Features''': word game
: Requirements: Requires bootable floppy drive
+
* '''Developer''': [[Rob Johansen]]
: Acceptable for tournament and club play
+
* '''Systems''': web app
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists.
  
; [[Lexpert]] (No longer available but previous versions exist)
+
=== [http://www.wordupdude.com/ Word Up Dude] ===
: developed by [[M.J. Ravichandran]]
+
* '''Features''': word game
: Requirements: Windows, Windows CE
+
* '''Developer''': [[Timothy Gardner|Tim Gardner]]
: Acceptable for club play only
+
* '''Systems''': Android, iOS
 +
* '''Notes''': Licensed to use official word lists in its own word game.
  
=== Tournament management ===
+
== Unlicensed software ==
  
Tournament management software decides which players play each other, and reports on their standings.
+
The following software is neither certified nor licensed, but may be of interest to our
 +
members.
  
; [[tsh]]
+
=== [http://www.poslarchive.com/math/software/qz/ qz] ===
: 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''': 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
  
; [[TourneyMan]]
+
== Legacy Software ==
: 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.
 
  
; [[TMENU]]
+
Software that is no longer actively supported, or has not been updated to current
: developed by [[RA Fontes]], is also widely used in the United States but no longer distributed. TMENU requires DOS or Windows.
+
standards, can be found in a separate list of [[legacy software]].

Revision as of 15:36, 29 March 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.

Crossword Island Hopper

  • Features: multi-player crossword game with many types of boards
  • Developer: Will Dumaresq
  • 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.

WordBirdFun

  • Features: multi-player word search game
  • Developer: Ky MacPherson
  • Systems: web app
  • Notes: Licensed to use official word lists.

Word Checker by Pisanu

  • Features: word judge
  • Developer: Pisanu Chaloemrattanaporn
  • Systems: Android
  • Notes: Licensed, but not certified as a competitive word judge tool.

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.

Word Expert by Pisanu

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.