[Xapian-discuss] Writing a desktop application

[Andrew Gregory]

Over the Summer months I have written the prototype for text-retrieval database. Currently it lacks a database 'engine' for storing, word-searching, and indexing. Xapian is on the face of it suitable for this purpose. The prototype was developed on Kubuntu, but will run on Windows if Python 2.5/2.6, Qt 4.4/4.5 and PyQt4 are installed. The code (GPL) is here for the present (I will email it on request):

http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/Knowledge?content=111504

I would welcome comments on the suitability of Xapian in this application.

If Xapian is indeed suitable I hope to find collaborators who would be interested in taking this forward as I am not expert on database 'engines'. I wrote the prototype on the basis of extensive experience of using the (long discontinued) Windows 95 Blackwell Idealist as a research tool. I still use it after 15 years as I have not been able find a satisfactory replacement. Simplicity, powerful search facilities, and flexibility are the requirements.

For now only three types of object can be displayed in fields .. but it is not hard to imagine many additions. I hope that the prototype is sufficiently well implemented to make the concepts obvious - but I would be pleased to answer any questions if anyone is interested. 
 

Andrew.

NB: I am new to this mailing list.