I've come a long way since I first released BeDictionary some 2 years ago. It was my first C++ app. It was also my first C++ app on BeOS. So you can imagine the horror that is its code, heck, anyone using it from the start will remember the horror that was its stability. Although, I'd like to think it got up to scratch with the later releases.
The other day, Tuesday the 10th, I toyed with the idea of rewriting BeDictionary. I've actually considered this before, but I think I'm relatively serious this time. I started on what I'm tentatively calling "libdataminer" which will use add ons to provide functionality. So far I've written the skeleton for the library aswell as a really cool add on called "TestAddOn" which returns dummy strings and does nothing. I actually toyed with this idea long ago when I made the datasource "XML" file. The reason I went that route was so that anyone, even non-coders, could find a cool site and add it to BeDictionary themselves. The idea still has merit, so I may write a similiar add on. But the real beauty of add ons is that they can get data from anywhere. And I mean anywhere. Someone could write an add on that gives you a certain number of bytes from /dev/random (Yes, I know it's useless). Or as I have planned; one that gives you the weather for a certain city. Or even something that does a query on your files and returns info one them.
The rewrite isn't set in stone, obviously. It depends on the amount of time I have and how much effort I have. I'll of course need a new name. Feel free to mail me (slaad AT bong DOT com DOT YOUKNOWWHATTOIGNOREANDWHATTOREPLACE DOT au) with name suggestions, money or even pictures of your girlfriend. |
