From: David Balmain <dbalmain.ml@...>
Date: 2005-11-20T11:42:05+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby/RoR - Lucene integration question ??

On 11/20/05, Kris <iamkris@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am to embark on a similar project. Just started reading on it. Isn't
> the index file created by Lucene readable from Ruby?

Hi Kris,
Andreas is correct in stating that Ferret can read the index from Ruby.

> I was planning to
> index the files via Lucene and use Ruby to read the index file or if I
> cannot read the index file from Ruby I plan to expose a webservice from
> the Java side and  consume it from the Ruby side.  Looking at
> Nathaniel's post about CDBaby, I think I am on the right path.

Why use Lucene to index the files when you can use Ferret. If it's
speed you are concerned about, it shouldn't be a problem by the end of
the month. Ferret should be faster than Lucene by then. One good
reason I can think of is that you'll have better support in Java for
indexing PDF's and Microsoft Office Docs. And Unicode is easier in
Java.

>
> I am looking at Ferret too but I think Lucene is more matured.
>

This is true in terms of possible bugs. But the index file format and
API are the same.

Anyway, I wish you the best, whatever choice you make.

Cheers,
Dave