Privacy Policy
Masterboard is a desktop chess application published by Intermezzo Software (Devin Grant t/a Intermezzo Software, United Kingdom). It is local-first by design: your games, analysis, and repertoires live in a SQLite database on your own computer. Intermezzo Software does not operate any servers that collect, store, or process personal data about you, and we do not include analytics, telemetry, or tracking in the application.
What data Masterboard stores on your device
All data created by your use of Masterboard is written to a directory on your own computer
(for example, %APPDATA%\Masterboard\ on Windows or
~/Library/Application Support/Masterboard/ on macOS). This includes:
- Imported chess games (PGNs), annotations, comments, and analysis results
- Opening repertoires, training schedules, and tactics drill history
- Application settings (board theme, panel layout, engine configuration)
- The optional master games database, if you have downloaded one
- Any chess engines you install through the in-app setup wizard
- Locally cached OAuth tokens for connected accounts (Lichess), only if you choose to connect one
None of this data is transmitted to Intermezzo Software. You can inspect, copy, or delete it at any time using your operating system's file manager, and uninstalling Masterboard removes it (subject to your operating system's uninstall behaviour).
Network requests Masterboard makes
Masterboard contacts third-party services only when necessary to provide a feature you have asked for. We do not proxy these requests through Intermezzo Software — your computer connects directly to the service named below. Each service has its own privacy policy.
- GitHub (github.com) — on launch, Masterboard checks the public Releases API to see whether a newer version is available. It also downloads chess engine binaries (Stockfish, Leela Chess Zero) and their network weights when you choose to install one from the engine catalog. These requests carry standard HTTP headers (no user identifier).
- Lichess (lichess.org) — contacted only when you explicitly import games or sign in via OAuth. If you sign in, Masterboard stores the resulting access token locally and uses it to fetch your games on demand.
- Chess.com (chess.com) — contacted only when you import games via the public archive endpoint by entering your username.
Masterboard makes no other outbound network requests. There is no analytics endpoint, no crash reporting back-end, and no advertising network.
Distribution channels
Masterboard is currently distributed through GitHub Releases. GitHub operates under its own privacy policy and may collect data about your download independently of Masterboard. Intermezzo Software does not receive identifying information about you from GitHub — only aggregate, anonymised statistics such as download counts. Should additional channels (for example an app store) be offered in future, each will operate under its own privacy policy on the same basis, and this page will be updated.
Children
Masterboard does not collect personal data and is suitable for users of any age. If a parent or guardian is aware of any privacy concern related to a minor's use of the application, please contact us at the address below.
Your rights
Because we hold no personal data about you, there is nothing for us to provide, correct, or erase on request. If you connect a third-party account such as Lichess, your rights with respect to data held by that third party are governed by their own privacy policy. You can revoke Masterboard's access at any time from your Lichess account settings, and you can delete the locally cached token by signing out from Settings → Connected accounts in the application.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes to this policy, the updated text and a new "Last updated" date will be published on this page. Older versions remain visible in the project's git history.
Contact
Questions about this policy or about Masterboard's handling of data can be sent to devin@intermezzosoftware.co.uk.