What is a "GUI"?
The main function of a GUI is to make communication between the engine and the user more convenient. You don't drive a car by sitting on the motor; you sit in the car. Pikafish is the motor, the GUI is the car, and your machine's computing power is the fuel for the motor.
A GUI is short for Graphical User Interface.
- PC Xiangqi GUIs include Shark GUI (鲨鱼), Binghe (兵河), Yongfang (勇芳), Tchess and others.
- Mobile Xiangqi GUIs include Youbu (优步), Xchess, Rongyu Xiangqi (绒语象棋) and others (some apps bundle the engine and the GUI together for convenience).
Of course, a GUI may also have other features to make things easier for users, such as engine tournaments, recognizing other boards, built-in tournament game records, opening book support, game replay and game record reading.
If you'd rather not bother and want software that bundles the engine and the GUI together, see here: How to download and use Pikafish