FAQ
Where is my data stored?
Section titled “Where is my data stored?”Masterboard stores all game data in a local SQLite database. No data is sent to any server.
| Platform | Location |
|---|---|
| Windows | %APPDATA%\Masterboard\ |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Masterboard/ |
| Linux | ~/.local/share/Masterboard/ |
How do I back up my games?
Section titled “How do I back up my games?”Your games are stored in standard PGN format within the local database. To export them:
- Select the games you want to back up on the Games page.
- Right-click and choose Export PGN (or use the toolbar export option).
- Save the file to any location — a cloud drive, external disk, etc.
The exported PGN can be re-imported into Masterboard or opened in any PGN-compatible application.
Can I use my own Stockfish?
Section titled “Can I use my own Stockfish?”Yes. Go to Settings → Engine and set the Custom Engine Path to your Stockfish binary. Any UCI-compatible engine works. See Engine Setup for details.
Can I import games from ChessBase?
Section titled “Can I import games from ChessBase?”ChessBase can export to PGN: File → Export → PGN. Import the resulting file with Masterboard’s PGN import. All variations and annotations are preserved.
Does Masterboard connect to the internet?
Section titled “Does Masterboard connect to the internet?”Only when you explicitly trigger a chess.com or Lichess game import. Masterboard does not send telemetry, crash reports, or any other data online.
Is Masterboard free?
Section titled “Is Masterboard free?”The current version is free. A Pro tier with additional features (cloud sync, team features) is planned but not yet available.
The engine panel shows nothing — what’s wrong?
Section titled “The engine panel shows nothing — what’s wrong?”Masterboard looks for a Stockfish binary in two places at startup:
- An
engines/folder in the same directory as the Masterboard binary. - Your system PATH.
If neither is found, the engine panel stays blank. Fix:
- On Windows: place
stockfish.exein anengines/folder next toMasterboard.exe. - On macOS/Linux: install Stockfish system-wide (
brew install stockfish,apt install stockfish) or set a custom engine path in Settings → Engine.
See Engine Setup for more detail.
Analysis is very slow — how do I speed it up?
Section titled “Analysis is very slow — how do I speed it up?”Increase the thread count in Settings → Engine to use more CPU cores. A good setting is (number of logical CPU cores − 1).
Also check that no other CPU-intensive applications are running while analysis is in progress. Batch analysis of many games is best run in the background while you step away.
Can I sync my games across devices?
Section titled “Can I sync my games across devices?”Not currently. Masterboard is local-first. Cloud sync is planned for a future Pro tier.
Why does the app show a security warning on first launch?
Section titled “Why does the app show a security warning on first launch?”Masterboard is not yet code-signed with a commercial certificate. Windows and macOS may flag the app as from an “unidentified developer.” See Installation for instructions on bypassing the warning safely.