Subject: ANNOUNCE: WWW::Search 1.005 available (web-search-engine API for Perl)
From: [email-masked] (John Heidemann)
Date: 11 Nov 1996 23:31:28 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.lang.perl.announce,comp.lang.perl.misc

WWW::Search
===========

WHAT IS NEW WITH WWW::Search 1.005?
-----------------------------------

- new: back-ends for HotBot, Lycos, and several AltaVista variants
- new: application support for search-engine selection
- new: application and library support for search-engine options

WHAT IS WWW::Search?
--------------------

WWW::Search is a collection of Perl modules which provide an API to
WWW search engines like AltaVista, Lycos, Hotbot, WebCrawler, and so
on.  Currently WWW::Search includes back-ends for variations of
AltaVista, Lycos, and HotBot.  We include two applications built from
this library: AutoSearch (an program to automate tracking of search
results over time), and a small demonstration program to drive the
library.  Back-ends for other search engines and more sophisticated
clients are currently under development.

WHAT IS AutoSearch?
-------------------

WWW::Search's primary client is AutoSearch.  AutoSearch performs a
web-based search and puts the results set in a web page.  It
periodically updates this web page, indicating how the search changes
over time.  Sample output from WWW::Search can be found at
<http://www.isi.edu/lsam/autosearch/>.  Output format is configurable.

See the man page for AutoSearch details, or Demonstration section
below for the quick-start instructions.

REQUIREMENTS
------------

WWW::Search requires Perl5 and libwww-perl.
For information on Perl5, see <http://www.perl.com>.
For libwww-perl, see <http://www.sn.no/libwww-perl/>.
Both are also available from the Comprehensive Perl Archive
Network (CPAN). Visit <http://www.perl.com/CPAN/> to find a CPAN
site near you.

At this time WWW::Search has been tested with Perl versions 5.002 and
5.003.

AVAILABILITY
------------

The latest version of WWW::Search should always be available from
<http://www.isi.edu/lsam/tools/WWW_SEARCH/>.

WWW::Search is also available as part of CPAN.  Visit
<URL:http://www.perl.com/CPAN/> to find a CPAN site near you.

Feedback about WWW::Search is encouraged.  If you're using it for a
neat application, please let us know.  If you'd like to (or have)
implemented a new back-end for WWW::Search, let us know so we don't
duplicate work.