Lost!

I’m only 10 days late on this due to a new job (YEA!), but I’ve talked about Krugle before (here and here), but this is one company that I really enjoy talking about for various reasons. This time, they’ve managed to nail one of the biggest software companies in the world, Microsoft.

Although MSDN branded, the MSDN Code Search Preview is hosted at Krugle. (Official Krugle Screenshot)

Microsoft has decided to deploy Krugle on the MSDN Code Gallery, but they are doing so in a new way. Unlike a lot of other customers that Krugle has, Microsoft chose to “…utilize a public-facing deployment of Krugle Enterprise Appliance. This will enhance the search process by allowing both internal and external members of the MSDN community to search code snippets and examples from the MSDN Library.” (Source: Official Krugle Blog post)

Krugle maintains the code search “preview” page here. Again, just a preview. Currently, Microsoft maintains the About Page, which maintains the following opening paragraph:

The MSDN Code Search Preview lets you search for code on MSDN. MSDN Code Search is a “preview” at this time because it only includes code snippets and examples from the MSDN Library and doesn’t yet include code from MSDN Forums, MSDN Code Gallery, or Codeplex (to be included at a later date).Source

So, one of a few things is happening here:

• MSFT is testing Krugle to see how the Search waters work for them and if it’s worth further relations.
• MSFT is slowly allowing Krugle to crawl the code (which should be happening anyway), but taking the relationship slow.
• MSFT is “testing” the technology for their own search needs.
• MSFT is “testing” the relationship to see if corporate attitudes jive.

While I have email addresses of several people at Krugle as you’ve seen in past stories, I’m not going to email them for comment. Anyone worth anything in corporate won’t comment on the above bullets and I have more respect for Krugle than most companies…

Looking at the MSDN Search Forums, coders are less than happy about Live Search on the MSDN site. Unfortnately, it appeared that no one had released the Krugle site on the Forum to all the people complaining - so I did…

So, will Krugle’s involvment in the MSDN search help? Um, yes. Being a part-time coder myself, I’ve used Krugle’s engine on several occasions and I’m starting to use it more and more. The fact that they’re now crawling the MSDN side of things, I’ll be using it daily at work.

Preview of the Next Blog Post: The (Almost) Perfect Home ECM Test Server:
Some people, like myself, test many CMS and ECM packages on a normal basis. There are, however, many people that may need to test these types of packages in a cheaper environment than on an enterprise class server that costs tens of thousands of dollars - whether they’re part of a small business, startup or even a large business with someone “testing” at home. On top of the CMS and ECM packages, I wanted something to help me test Enterprise class software (read: learn) for future use and I think I accomplished more than what I wanted.

I’ve been away for a long time, but have slowly been posting again. This wasn’t the typical abandonment of a blog though. Long story short, I had a job, lost said job but stayed with the same company, went TDY (Temporary Duty) to Sicily twice in 2 weeks (Ever had a 3 day turn around time then planned an international trip 2 hours before your flight leaves? Not fun…) then picked up a new job with the same company. After anticipating having most of the summer off, it didn’t happen.

Over the summer, however, some plans did worked out. I managed to get permission from the wife (a large task that took 2 months of talking - ok begging, planning, ordering, building and installing) to setup a new Enterprise Class server in my office. I am now sitting in a very cold office (due to the AC that I have to run year-round) almost on top of a server. Over the next few stories, I’ll talk about the server and options you have if you want to build something similar.

While doing this, I decided that I might as well take advantage of the situation and provide the installation process for SharePoint and Alfresco as well as some other odds and ends. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be releasing updates of installations of various packages - call them walk throughs so you can compare Tangerines, Oranges and Apples right from the beginning. I’m also going to extend my coverage on those packages by getting detailed quotes of the full price for my server, if I where an IT dept, along with the Connection Licenses (CALs) for a user base of 1,000 people using said system. You did know that you have to buy CALs for Sharepoint, right? This will give anyone thinking about installing SharePoint, Alfresco and others, an itemized, price tag of most of what I install.

Preview of the Next Blog Post: Krugle Nails Major Code Search Customer:
I’m only 10 days late on this due to a new job (YEA!), but I’ve talked about Krugle before (here and here), but this is one company that I really enjoy talking about for various reasons. This time, they’ve managed to nail one of the biggest software companies in the world…