Release Notes

Revision History

updated ZIP file (Oct. 16, 2000)

removed some unneeded empty directories from the ZIP file
added the GPL to the ZIP
source code is unchanged

1.2 (Nov. 11, 1999)

display image loading message on startup
add keyboard support
add applet parameters for easier customization
display slightly fancy win message
display card count in lose message (my sister's suggestion)
lots of internal reorganization
source code released ^_^

1.1 (Sep. 13, 1999)

complete rewrite of display/event code:
- show all cards in stacks, rather than just top card
- implemented double-buffering for smoother screen redraws
- other minor display tweaks
changed text color to white

1.0a (Sep. 13, 1999)

bugfix: if no moves on last deal, end of game not detected

1.0 (Sep. 9, 1999)

initial release

To Do

• autodetect image width and height
• allow right-clicking to show hidden cards?
• convert to JFC/Swing and Java 1.1

Tech Notes

This is the first Java program I have ever written. I've always wanted to write a Four Aces game, since my sister and I used to play this game a lot using real cards. (It's a good travel game, since it does not require as much table space as other solitaire games.) I made a lot of false starts before getting the game into its current form, but I think it turned out fairly well.

Source Code

Download Four Aces 1.2 source code (16.4KB ZIP file)
The source is distributed under the GNU General Public License. Use it however you like.

The card images are from the PySol cardsets, also distributed under the GPL. The applet was compiled and debugged using the free tools from Sun. I learned Java using the web tutorial on their site as well.