lichess-org
Feature Request: Offline AI Opponent for Mobile App
Hello Lichess Team and Community,
First off, a huge thank you for your incredible work on the new mobile application. The design is clean, the performance is smooth, and it's a joy to use. I am writing to propose a feature that I believe would be a massive quality-of-life improvement for many users: the ability to play against an offline AI/bot without an internet connection.
The Use Case: As someone who frequently uses the app during my commute, I often find myself in situations with unreliable or no internet access (e.g., in traffic jams, on the subway, during flights, or in areas with poor reception). These moments are perfect opportunities to practice tactics or play a quick game. Currently, the lack of an offline mode prevents this, which is a significant limitation. Having an offline bot would make Lichess the ultimate, all-in-one chess companion, available anytime and anywhere. It ensures that users can always get their chess fix, regardless of their connectivity.
Proposal: My suggestion is to bundle a lightweight chess engine with the mobile application. This would allow users to:
- Play a full game against the computer while completely offline.
- Select various difficulty levels for the AI opponent.
- Analyze positions or practice openings without needing to connect to the server.
I understand that this might slightly increase the application's size, but I believe the immense utility it offers would be a worthwhile trade-off for a large portion of the user base.
Thank you for considering this request. Your dedication to creating the best open-source chess platform is truly appreciated, and I am convinced this feature would be a fantastic addition. Best regards.
I often find myself in situations with unreliable or no internet access (e.g., in traffic jams, on the subway, during flights, or in areas with poor reception)
