Holmes Net Search Tool v0.1b2
(c) 1999 Technical Alchemy, Dave Fletcher


What is this?
-------------
Holmes is a tool to help you get quicker results when searching the
internet. It runs as an applet in the GNOME toolbar. Searching is
painful enough already without that darn search engine front page with
seven hundred advertisements...


How Holmes came to be
---------------------
This is the project which I used to familliarize myself with the GNOME
environment. The latest source code can be accesed from:

	http://www.pcc.net/alchemy/holmes

A similar tool exists called "websearch" available at:

	http://www.nodata.demon.co.uk/websearch

and within the GNOME CVS distribution as "websearch". I've decided to 
continue Holmes development because I feel it is a more user friendly
approach than "websearch" because it requires no external compiled
binary resources. Also, the "Web Update" feature makes obtaining the
latest greatest search engine list extremely easy.


Warning this is a BETA release
------------------------------
Please remember, this is a beta release of this tool. Although such a
situation is highly unlikely, Technical Alchemy and Dave Fletcher
cannot be responsible for any damages which use of this software may
incur, including the occasional crash, loss of data, destruction of
the Earth, etc.


Requirements
------------
A linux box running X windows and the GNOME desktop environment.
As of this writing, RedHat 6 is the only linux distribution which
installs and activates everything necessary to run Holmes, but it
should work fine on any system with the latest stable versions of the
following libraries installed:

	libglib		available at http://www.gkt.org
	libgtk		available at http://www.gkt.org
	libgnome	available at http://www.gnome.org
	

Also, an active internet connection and "libghttp" are required in order
to use the "Web Update" function which dynamically updates the list of
search engines and the application itself.

Further, gcc, the GNU c compiler, is required for platforms other than
i386 linux.

If there is sufficient interest, I could fairly easily create a
gtk version of Holmes which doesn't require gnome. Please send mail
to alchemy@pcc.net if you are interested.


OK, so what does it cost
------------------------
Nothing, it's free! Enjoy. The source code is freely distributable under
the GNU public license. (see COPYING)


Plea for internalization help!
------------------------------
Please, if you speak another language and have an hour or two to spare,
consider contributing. Please email me at alchemy@pcc.net if you have
prepared an internationalized distribution. I am fairly certain the
properties scheme will work for all roman language variations, but I know
nothing about asian languages and multibyte char support. Please send an
email to the above address with any successes, failures, or suggestions
on the subject.

	things to internationalize:
	
		[ivar] variables in "holmes.txt"
		
		holmes_applet.desktop (blatently stolen from "modemlights" and
		badly needs help!)
			
		this README file
	
	
	things not to internationalize:
	
		LICENSE (it's probably already been done by the Free Software
				 Foundation)
		
		source code


Statement on RPM
----------------
I'm just learning about developing in the linux environment and expect
to have to have RPM installers "real soon now" which means in about 8
months. In the meantime, you have to deal with the GNU style installer.
