Hello, On 2 Oct 99, at 14:48, Earl Hood wrote: > Since I believe you want a search engine to function within > Web client (hence the idea of using Java), you could have a small > web > server on the CD that the persons starts for search-based browsing. > Something like HTTPi (http://stockholm.ptloma.edu/httpi/) could > be used. It is a pure Perl webserver. I think currently, it > only functions on Unix-type systems since it uses fork(). Unsure > if > Perl 5.6 will allow fork()-based programs to run (effectively) > under > Win32. Another alternative could be: mhttpd A fast, minimal web server in a single C source file. Supports http basic authentication with text file or LDAP. Also supports SSL. Platform - Unix. Language - C. http://www.fccc.edu/users/muquit/mhttpd/mhttpd.html > An advantage of the mini-server approach is that clients that > do not support Java (like Lynx), or Java is not activated for > security concerns, can do searching against the archives. No > client-side applet is needed. Regular HTML forms can be used. > > BTW, a Java applet will not be enough. Java puts many restrictions > on > applets for security reasons, so you will not be able to due file > I/O. > You will need server the web client can communicate with, where > the > server does the file I/O operations. > > > > > Unhappily, an extensive search has shown that the available > > (commercial/share/free-ware) engines either don't serve my needs >> or > > are prohibitively expensive (especially as I might be providing > > copies of the archive to 100's of people). > > With how Java has been deployed, you have an atmosphere where many > Java programs are proprietary. Not as open source (free) as the > Perl > community. > > > In looking around for alternatives I ran across a number of sites > > where one could "request" some software for open development, > > solicit "proposals" from developers and gather "interest" from > > other > > folks who'd like to see the software built. Interested parties > > commit to putting up some bucks to fund the development. > > > > I figure if we could get 20 or 30 people to put up $20.00 (USD) > > each, we could probably attract a Java developer to do the work. > > > > If you'd be interested in helping support(fund) and/or develop > > specifications for a MHonArc-specific Java based search engine > > please drop me a note. If there is sufficient interest, I'll set > > up > > a mailing list at one of the freebie hosting services where we > > can > > hash things out. > > If you take the search index approach, you will need a > platform-independent index file (if you are supporting multiple > OS's). > If an existing search engine can create platform-independent index > files, all you would need to build is the search client. > > > If you think I'm entirely out in left field, forgive the > > intrusion, > > but please *do* drop me a note and tell me why you think this > > wouldn't work. > > O'reilly uses a Java server application for the The Perl CD > Bookshelf. Probably Earl is referring to the same firm (O�Reilly is a client of them) but I found the following who have developed a Java server application is: http://www.astaware.com ASTAware suite of products gives you the ability to add search functionality to web-based publications - Internet or intranet both online and CD-ROM. It is multi-platform, multi-browser, search engine software for CD-ROM. It is not for free but you can ask for a free demo CD! Regards, -brt Bert Hiddink, FUNDACION GALILEO Correo electronico: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sitio: http://www.galileo.or.cr Tel. (506) 280 8683, telefax. (506) 280 8847
