Cyber - finally a concise and from what I can tell correct explanation!
Mark - AKA BBD
Quick games are being fixed
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RETORT!!!!
Obviously...the master clock needs to be on the server. You cannot have three clocks.
You are missing the point....the clocks that the players see are not exactly the same as the server clock due to lag, and neither player can see the server clock. And there really is three clocks, I suppose; one on each personal computer and one on the server. If a player doesn't understand lag then they are going to assume that someone is cheating.
Fair enough. I did overstep on the generalization about "clock management." I use Babas and Winboard for FICS and there is a difference between the application languages.
However, there is no "slave" clock, per se, because the application cannot override the local system's clock. They both use the same methodology to keep in sync, it just happens more quickly because there is a "constant" connection between the desktop application and the Java application. Desktop applications work on a "stream" method of connectivity. Java works on a "Push/Push" method to reduce load on the servers.
Keep in mind that FICS has been established longer than chess.com and has had ample opportunity to evolve their system while minimizing their features. Chess.com is much more robust in features and younger. The volume of users per each is substantial enough to warrant using "P/P" technology instead of constant stream. Consider the number of d/c's that people have with "P/P" vs. "Constant" stream and you can exponentially see the problem with those users who treat this site as a "hangout" as opposed to a "learning/knowledge" community.
FICS does not have the problem of users creating accounts simply to logon and chat. That problem was eliminated years ago when FICS was only availabe on Usenet/IRC because it didn't have the GUI applications of Babas, WinBoard, etc.