Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and answers about Pawn Appétit.
General Questions
What is Pawn Appétit?
Pawn Appétit is a free, open-source chess GUI designed for analysis, training, and database management.
Is Pawn Appétit really free?
Yes! Pawn Appétit is 100% free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.
Can I use Pawn Appétit offline?
Yes! Pawn Appétit is a desktop application that works completely offline. Internet connection is only needed for downloading updates or accessing online databases.
Installation & Setup
Which operating systems are supported?
Pawn Appétit supports Windows, macOS, and most modern Linux distributions (Ubuntu 20.04+, Fedora, Arch, etc.).
Do I need to install a chess engine separately?
Yes, Pawn Appétit doesn't include a chess engine by default. We recommend installing Stockfish, which is free and one of the strongest engines available.
How do I update Pawn Appétit?
The application will notify you when updates are available. You can either download the new version manually from GitHub or use the built-in updater.
Features & Usage
Can I analyze games with multiple engines?
Yes! Pawn Appétit supports running multiple UCI engines simultaneously, allowing you to compare evaluations and find the best moves.
Can I import my existing PGN databases?
Absolutely! Pawn Appétit supports importing PGN files of any size. You can import individual games or entire databases.
Troubleshooting
The application won't start. What should I do?
First, ensure your system meets the minimum requirements. On macOS, check Security & Privacy settings. On Linux, verify the AppImage has executable permissions. If issues persist, check our GitHub issues or create a new one.
Why isn't my engine working?
Verify the engine path is correct and the engine file has executable permissions. The engine must be UCI-compatible. Try testing it in a terminal/command prompt first.
The interface is slow or laggy. How can I fix this?
Try these steps: 1) Close unnecessary applications, 2) Reduce the number of running engines, 3) Lower engine depth/threads, 4) Check for system updates, 5) Restart the application.
Where can I get help if my question isn't answered here?
You can get help through: GitHub or our Discord server for real-time chat with other users.