Subject: ANNOUNCE: WWW::Search 1.009 available (web-search-engine API for Perl)
From: [email-masked] (John Heidemann)
Date: 17 Jan 1997 00:51:41 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.lang.perl.announce,comp.lang.perl.modules

WWW::Search and AutoSearch
==========================

WHAT IS NEW WITH WWW::Search 1.009?
-----------------------------------

overview:  1.009 is primarily a maintenance release to accommodate
	changes to LWP and some search engines.

- change:  search application renamed WebSearch (a more specific name)
- bug-fix:  the WWW::Search error in formatting is fixed
	(problem found by Larry Virden, fix by him and johnh)
- bug-fix:  RobotUA handling updated for new LWP in Search.pm
- bug-fix:  update for Infoseek (page format changed about 1 Jan 97)
	(problem found by Joseph McDonald, fix by Cesare Feroldi de Rosa)
- bug-fix:  update for Excite (page format changed about 9 Jan 97)
	(problem found by Juan Jose Amor, fix by GLen Pringle)

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

WWW::Search is a collection of Perl modules which provide an API to
WWW search engines.  Currently WWW::Search includes back-ends for
variations of AltaVista, Dejanews, Excite, HotBot, Infoseek, and
Lycos.  We include two applications built from this library:
AutoSearch (an program to automate tracking of search results over
time), and WebSearch, 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
<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.