[Mycroft] Mycroft Source Code

[Matthew A. McGuigan]

Hello all,

If I'm wrong about this please let me know.  I think Matt is looking for 
the source code to Mozilla-Search and not the source code for the 
Mycroft-Plugins, database or web site. 

Not only do I think I am confused about what Matt is looking for.  I 
don't even know if I have it all together in my own mind.  I have 
thought about renaming the Advanced Search Sidebar to Mycroft-Search or 
something.  However, I didn't want to take away from the Mycroft 
projects core mission (providing search-plugins for Mozilla-Search).   
With the search-panel seemingly being dropped from future Mozilla 
builds, being forced in to no longer existing or becoming an extension,  
I thought that naming the extension after the repository would make 
people think "Everything to do with the Mycroft project was for use with 
the extension and not Mozilla" so, I didn't pursue the change.  With 
that said, I know what the Mycroft project is, but what is Mycroft? 

I think Mycroft has become just the Mycroft project and is now different 
from Sherlock in nomenclature. Here is what I think:

    * Mycroft is a repository for Mozilla-Search plug-ins.  It provides
      them for easy installation and tries to keep them working well.
    * Mozilla-Search is the core of the search system you find in
      Mozilla products.  It is provided and maintained by mozilla.org. 
      Mozilla based products and extensions make use of the core search
      services and build user interfaces for it.  It gets very confusing
      because there are so many different interfaces that it ships with.
    * Search-panel (commonly thought of as the search sidebar) is one of
      those interfaces.  It is a part of Mozilla, but at some point may
      be removed from the shipped product.  It used to be called Mycroft
      by many, including Mycroft staff.  That made sense back in the
      days before Firebird.
    * Search Sidebar is an attempt to keep the search-panel and Advanced
      Search available to all Mozilla users.   If the search-panel is
      ever removed from the suite or Firebird, the Search Sidebar
      project is there to try and pick up where Mozilla.org dropped it. 
      References to the panel were not included in Firebird, so making
      those references available is what the project does today.
    * Sherlock is a whole search system.  One complete product from top
      to bottom. 
    * Mozilla-Search is a general reference for the whole search system
      in Mozilla.  A complete product with different interfaces.
    * Mycroft is what Sherlock users would refer to as a place to get
      Sherlock Plugins.
    * Advanced Search Sidebar, search-panel and Firebird SearchBar are
      some examples of interfaces to Mozilla-Search that intern make use
      ofMozilla-Search plug-ins (Mycroft-Plugins). 
    * Mycroft is no longer a product.


To those reading this conversion, please don't interpret this as the end 
all definition of what Mycroft is.  Whatever we decide here, the meaning 
of Mycroft could stay this way or change again.  Only time will tell.  
I'm interested in hearing the thoughts of staff members on the subject?

Regards,

Mat

BTW  Matt, If I am correct in what you are looking for, everything is 
available at http://lxr.mozilla.org/seamonkey/source/xpfe/components/search/