normally rhe code should work to see display modify this : public

ArrayList<Piece> getPieces() {
		ArrayList<Piece> pieces = new ArrayList<>();
		//TODO

		return pieces;
	}

src/backend/Board.java

@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ public class Board {
 	}
 
 	public int getWidth() {
-		width = 8; // setting the width at 8 for the moment can be changed
+		//width = 8; // setting the width at 8 for the moment can be changed
 		return width;
 	}
 
 	public int getHeight() {
-		height = 8; // setting the height at 8 for the moment can be changed
+		//height = 8; // setting the height at 8 for the moment can be changed
 		return height;
 	}
 
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ public class Board {
 	}
 
 	public void populateBoard() {
+		
+		board[0][0] = new Piece(false, PieceType.Rook, 0, 0);
 		/*
 		  // Place Rooks
 		  board[0][0] = new Rook(PieceColor.BLACK, new Position(0, 0));

src/backend/Piece.java

@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ public class Piece {
 	int y;
 	private PieceType type;
 	
+	public Piece(boolean whitePiece, PieceType type, int x, int y) {
+        this.whitePiece = whitePiece;
+        this.type = type;
+        this.x = x;
+        this.y = y;
+	}
+	
 	public int getX() {
 		return x;
 	}