Google Desktop Search API Releases
Google has released an API for its desktop search product, allowing developers to create tools that extend the capabilities of the program. Possible uses listed on the SDK overview site include adding support to GDS for:
- Email applications such as Lotus, Eudora, Yahoo Mail and Hotmail
- Files from iTunes, Wordperfect, StarOffice, or any other file format
- Web history from Opera, AOL, or any other web browser
- IM applications such as Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger
Developers can also build GDS search boxes into their applications.
You would not believe how much I hope people take to this API and go nuts with it. Every desktop search product has its flaws (and I’m sure Google’s even with a new version, has its own), and I cannot sit around, trying out each new version hoping that it will finally be good enough to make me happy. With an API, there don’t need to be flaws, because someone can fix them.
That’s not to say I don’t want Google to produce the best desktop search program possible. After all, the API is useless if the product is crap. Still, opening things up leaves less room for error. No company can build in file indexing support for everything under the sun, but the community can.
One limitation in the API, that I think should be eliminated: Event Schemas. GDS only supports 3 pre-defined schemas for file categories: Files, emails, and IMs. Why not let the developers decide if they want to add new schemas? How about a Skype schema, or an RSS schema?
Anyway, taking a look through the developer documentation, you can see a lot of file metadata GDS keeps track of. I want an interface for GDS that displays all of this data and lets me sort that data, like MSN Desktop Search.
There’s also a GDS Developer Group Google Group.
(via Chris DiBona)
Just found out that installing the GDSearch runs fine on my PC, but then I only can view the results on Firefox. Impossible to get IE to show them.
Just posted a review of it on my blog, another example of the Firefox/Big G World Domination Agreement ?
(anyway, who would run G results in IE ?
Comment by Samuel D | March 9, 2005