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    FAQ

  1. How you got idea of this project "Homemade dictionary" ?
  2. How do I install it ?
  3. What the hell is JRE ?
  4. Why are you distributing it for free?
  5. Hey I found Out a bug
  6. Why are you criticizing Windows?
  7. Who are you?
  8. I want to contribute (Suggestions, new Wordlists, code, money ;-)

Idea of this project?

This dictionary project just arose as means to satisfy the requirements of customizable dictionary that my dad always required. Since I am  presently on vacation so I gave a try to it, and final product is finally out. Well not much of testing has been done but it should works seamlessly, if you use it correctly. Though  the project was made in record time of 4 days, however the improvements that have been done to it to improve Looks, & features have taken considerable amount of time and several hours of my sleep after midnight, for several days and even till now. Please see "Change Log" exact sequence of development.

The Product has been released as "Open Source" product, and the best thing is the courage and spirits to release it as Open Source (You usually get no money for the amount for the work you have done in this case, as you can I have posted it for free download with absolutely no functional limitations).

Open Source is the new approach towards software development, when you let others have access to your source code freely; this way anybody interested can modify the code as per his needs and let others also benefit from it. On account this approach only, we have world class Operating System like Linux available to us.

By the way the title of this homepage "Antitrust Associates"  might have surprised you, but actually it's a Hollywood movie "Antitrust" that would let you into an insight of real Open Source vs. Proprietary Systems.

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Installation ?

Click here to download the Windows version of the dictionary. You will typically need an unzipping utility like Winzip, Winrar etc. to unzip the contents. For advance users I would recommend 7-zip a world class Open Source archive manager available at sourceforge ). Simply double Click the Setup.exe and it will do the entire installation. Note: You  will require JRE/JDK1.5.0 or above in order to run the program.

Installation of Linux version is a bit difficult and you should download the Linux version of HomeMade Dictionary2.0  from here. Linux version requires that you have Postgresql installed on your machine, though advance user can modify the code to fit any any other DBMS.

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JRE?

JRE is an acronym for Java Runtime Environment. Java is a platform independent programming language that is interpreted at runtime by JVM (Java Virtual Machine), that's why it is very difficult to produce executables(*.exe) file for Java code. JRE in essence is a JVM. Java was designed and is maintained by "Sun Microsystems Pvt. Ltd".

Now if you ask me that that how the hell did I created a an executable named HomeMade Dictionary.exe, then dear I had use a Java wrapper named JSmooth( you can get it from sourceforge.net ). Probably now  you would like to know what is this wrapper, then to answer all of your queries you would better like to have a look at an excellent article under the heading : "Java to EXE - Why, When, When Not and How" . Unfortunately I forgot the name of author as well as URL. Try searching google for this, by the way I remember that author of the article worked for a company named Excelisor-JET (this company releases a product that can in fact compile java to native code, i.e., executable file *.exe. The good thing is that they have fully functional 90 days demo available).

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Why I am distributing it for free?

I developed it the entire product using either freeware utilities or open-source products and for my personal interests, now since I found that may be it could be useful for others too so I'm distributing this out for free. Also it is open source so modification to code and suggestions are welcome. May be you can even improve this product. For more philosophy over Open Source products you may like to have a look at Open Source FAQ's at  : " Open Source International" .

Even yahoo provided me free web space at geocities, so whole  idea of charging for it is injustice. Anyways code itself is a very simple utility, and nobody would goof up to pay for it.

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You want to Contribute

Great so you appreciated this product and want to contribute.

1. You may contribute new wordlists (make sure that you enter those into your personal dictionary, you can change dictionary in the software by CTRL+F2).I will soon upload a tool that will help you automate the process. Keep checking out this webpage every week for updates. I will upload your wordlist on this page with due credits to you.

2. You may also have new Suggestions, Ideas or even you might have modified code for improvements, then what are you waiting for mail me immediately at nitinatindore@rediffmail.com ,or diwakernitin@yahoo.co.in  make sure that in subject you mention homemade dictionary.

4. If you appreciated this project do recommend others to download this project and send me your comments at mail id above. Also you can send me picture post card from your city, with your details on  it, at the address mentioned below. Also try rating my project at www.freshmeat.net under the name "javadict".

5. You could perhaps also improve my webpage in case you are an experienced web developer and make this dictionary and game available online.

6. In case you find that you are really impressed, and that this product is revolutionary and has changed your lifestyle then feel free to send me monetary contribution at:

Nitin Diwaker                                                                                                                                             58,Talabpura                                                                                                                                       Lalitpur (U.P) - 284403                                                                                                                                INDIA

See that I am just an individual and not a full fledged company, I don't have a PayPal or online account, you will have to send the amount by traditional paper based documents/currency/cheque/drafts.

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I found out a bug

Great, If know how to remove it, download the code remove it and mail me the code back I will repost it on the site with credits to you. Since I am not efficient webpage designer, presently haven't put up a section for users comment, but soon I will. If  you don't know how to fix it, and you are sure that its a bug then mail the nature of bug to me and I will rectify the same.

By the way if you are telling me that there is menu option named "Change Dictionary" that hangs up the dictionary, OR that the dictionary doesn't searches words by meaning (i.e.) query by Meaning function, then read on. Download the latest version that's uploaded presently from here .Or if you want to remove it yourself, its is very easy; just right mouse "homemade dictionary icon"   on your desktop and click Properties. Now Click "Find Target". Here open the database "dict.mdb" and add a new table named "medical" with two fields "word" (Primary  Key, Text) and "meaning" (Text, default length 200).Save and voila its done.

To remove second bug : download updated dictionary, one on 8 July 2005.


Still using Windows

Well, Windows no doubt is a great operating system and very to use, however why does world always want to go after an operating system that is virus loving, with negligible security, which hangs every now and then and you have to restart it after installing/uninstalling any bit of software.

All this is bearable, but then the amount  you pay for a genuine copy of Windows? Compare it with Linux, though difficult to use initially, it comes with world class security, with a whole lot of bundle of software's (CD Writing, Publishing, Office, Music and Video Players, Organizers, Games, Calendars, IDE, programming languages, Editors, Image Editors and ........).Name the software and you have it and the best fact is that all this comes for free, unless you need very advance features/support.

 I am great Linux fan, and all those Windows users should try out this too, to relieve yourself  of those blood sucking viruses, frequent hangouts, spy wares and good for nothing Antivirus. Please have a  look at link below to know status Window security and spy wares at:   http://www.io.com/~cwagner/spyware/ ,You can be totally sucked out even without your knowledge, just read the article above.

   Discover Power of Linux

Interested, I would like you read an excellent article by "Niyam Bhushan" named "Seven Steps to Software Samadhi", migrating from Windows to Gnu Linux.

If you would like to have any queries about Linux, there are worldwide forums and users to help you out just google the "problem" ,and you have the solution, or feel free to mail me & if time permits I shall be glad to help you out.

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Who I am?

I am an amateur programmer and a software engineer from INDIA. Please have a look at this link for further detail : "About Me".

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Copyright © 2005  Nitin Diwaker. All rights reserved.
Revised: 07/18/05.