Pool simulation with Go and Fyne
Programming Snapshot – Go Pool Simulation
To improve his skill at the pool table, Mike Schilli sets out to program a simulation in Go using the Fyne framework.
If you just aim by the seat of your pants at the pool table in the pub, the results will vary between brilliant and downright embarrassing. That's why I decided to finally learn the angle at which you have to hit a ball so that it heads off in the right direction, straight for the pocket. To do this, I studied Poolology [1], which explains the strategy in detail. I don't have a pool table at home to practice on, so I wondered: How difficult would it be to write a graphical simulation of the pool balls in Go? That way I could try out the technology onscreen before challenging the biggest pool hustlers in the wickedest pool halls of San Francisco.
In the simplest of cases, pool players shoot the cue ball straight into the ball to be played, and the cue ball hits the colored ball right in the middle (you hope). The colored ball absorbs the energy of the cue ball and moves in the same direction, while the cue ball remains stationary – unless you used a trick such as spin. Things become more complicated if you hit a colored ball at an angle. In that case, it will shoot off to the side while the cue ball keeps moving along a deflected path. The angles here depend on the amount of overlap with which the colored ball was hit. In more concrete terms: If a pool player does not aim at the center of a ball but exactly at its edge (called a half-ball), the colored ball drifts away at an angle of about 30 degrees.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.