Difference between revisions of "Choosing a SWORD program"

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!width="9%"|Module Creation and user editable content
 
!width="9%"|Module Creation and user editable content
 
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!width="9%"|Other
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|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[http://www.kiyut.com/products/alkitab/ Alkitab Bible Study]
 +
|Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
 +
|Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right
 +
|yes
 +
| verse, block, poetry layout
 +
| no
 +
|yes
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[[Frontends:BibleDesktop|BibleDesktop (JSword)]]
 +
|Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
 +
|Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right
 +
|yes
 +
| verse, block, poetry layout
 +
| no
 +
| yes - including commentaries
 +
| yes
 +
|Bible search with wildcards
 +
|Manual look-up
 +
|Lists in left-hand pane
 +
|Yes
 +
|English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese
 +
|Yes
 +
|[http://www.crosswire.org/~dmsmith/bd/ Portable version]
 +
| word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[http://devel.bibletime.info BibleTime] (see also [[Frontends:KioSword|Kio-Sword]])
 +
|Linux
 +
|Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|yes
 +
|Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search
 +
|Strongs, parsing (automatic)
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[http://bpbible.com BPBible (wxPython)]
 +
|Windows, Linux
 +
| 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes.
 +
| no
 +
| verse, block, poetry layout
 +
|no
 +
|no
 +
|no
 +
|regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches.
 +
|Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box
 +
|Verse lists and verse tagging
 +
|Incomplete (no RtoL)
 +
|
 +
|No
 +
|[http://PortableApps.com/BPBiblePortable PortableApps.com edition]
 +
|gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[http://thegoan.com/firebible FireBible (JSword/FireFox)]
 +
|Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
 +
|1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|no
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Bible search with wildcards
 +
|Manual look-up
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|English
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[[Frontends:MacSword|MacSword]]
 +
|version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
 +
|Multi-window, each module gets it's window
 +
| yes
 +
|verse, block layout
 +
|
 +
|yes
 +
|yes
 +
|wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit
 +
|Strongs, Morph (automatic)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[[Frontends:BibleCS|The SWORD Project for Windows]]
 +
|Windows
 +
|Three-pane with tabbed library navigation
 +
|
 +
| verse, block layout
 +
|
 +
|yes
 +
|yes
 +
|wildcard, regex and clucene searches
 +
|Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click)
 +
|
 +
|Yes (incomplete: no RtoL)
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|-valign="top" <!-- App | Devel | OS | Layout | Search | Dictionary | Lists | Localization |RtoL |Special -->
 +
|[[Frontends:Xiphos|Xiphos (GNOME)]] (formerly [[Frontends:GnomeSword|GnomeSword]])
 +
|Windows, Linux
 +
|Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left
 +
| yes
 +
|verse, block, poetry layout
 +
| pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content
 +
|yes
 +
|yes
 +
|clucene, wildcard and regex searches
 +
|strongs +parsing automatic
 +
|
 +
|Yes
 +
|English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish
 +
|Yes
 +
|
 +
|Read Aloud
 +
|}
 +
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 21:47, 28 February 2009

Introduction

This page is under development. As such it may not be helpful until it is near completion. For that reason, please don't link it on another page until then. To become complete it needs fair and balanced™ coverage of the SWORD programs.

Do feel free to edit this page to make it more complete and better organized.

The purpose of this page is to help an end user decide which SWORD program is the best for them. The first consideration is which programs are available for the user. This can be found at CrossWire's home page. Once the user has narrowed down which programs are available, the following can be used to focus on the best program.

It is recommended that each user try all the available programs. It is likely that one will resonate with the user and work best for that user.

Features Common to All SWORD Applications

For the most part all the SWORD programs have the same features.

  • Can read modules in the SWORD Library
  • Use Unicode
  • Released under an open source license
  • powerful search syntax - wildcard, regex and often also clucene indexed searches (fuzzy and proximity searches + searches for Strongs, stemming etc) within preset and customised scopes.
  • strongs, morphological info, cross references and footnotes
  • All frontends listed beleow are undergoing more or less active development.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Leading SWORD Applications

Module Support

Application Operating Systems RtoL Modules Daily Devotions Ancillary Module content
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes Yes Yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes - including commentaries yes Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Lists in left-hand pane Yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese Yes Portable version word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left yes Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search Strongs, parsing (automatic) Yes Yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no verse, block, poetry layout no no no regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches. Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box Verse lists and verse tagging Incomplete (no RtoL) No PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) no Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Yes English Yes
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ Multi-window, each module gets it's window yes verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strongs, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows Three-pane with tabbed library navigation verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, regex and clucene searches Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click) Yes (incomplete: no RtoL) Yes Yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows, Linux Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left yes verse, block, poetry layout pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content yes yes clucene, wildcard and regex searches strongs +parsing automatic Yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish Yes Read Aloud

|}

Windowing and Display

Application Operating Systems Window Layout Several texts open at same time? Text Display Complex Scripts
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes Yes Yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes - including commentaries yes Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Lists in left-hand pane Yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese Yes Portable version word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left yes Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search Strongs, parsing (automatic) Yes Yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no verse, block, poetry layout no no no regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches. Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box Verse lists and verse tagging Incomplete (no RtoL) No PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) no Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Yes English Yes
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ Multi-window, each module gets it's window yes verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strongs, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows Three-pane with tabbed library navigation verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, regex and clucene searches Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click) Yes (incomplete: no RtoL) Yes Yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows, Linux Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left yes verse, block, poetry layout pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content yes yes clucene, wildcard and regex searches strongs +parsing automatic Yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish Yes Read Aloud

|}

Search, Dictionary and Study Support

Application Operating Systems Search Features Dictionary Look-up Verse Lists
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes Yes Yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes - including commentaries yes Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Lists in left-hand pane Yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese Yes Portable version word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left yes Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search Strongs, parsing (automatic) Yes Yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no verse, block, poetry layout no no no regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches. Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box Verse lists and verse tagging Incomplete (no RtoL) No PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) no Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Yes English Yes
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ Multi-window, each module gets it's window yes verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strongs, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows Three-pane with tabbed library navigation verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, regex and clucene searches Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click) Yes (incomplete: no RtoL) Yes Yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows, Linux Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left yes verse, block, poetry layout pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content yes yes clucene, wildcard and regex searches strongs +parsing automatic Yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish Yes Read Aloud

|}

Localisation

Application Operating Systems Localization Support GUI RtoL Support GUI Languages
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes Yes Yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes - including commentaries yes Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Lists in left-hand pane Yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese Yes Portable version word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left yes Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search Strongs, parsing (automatic) Yes Yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no verse, block, poetry layout no no no regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches. Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box Verse lists and verse tagging Incomplete (no RtoL) No PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) no Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Yes English Yes
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ Multi-window, each module gets it's window yes verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strongs, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows Three-pane with tabbed library navigation verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, regex and clucene searches Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click) Yes (incomplete: no RtoL) Yes Yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows, Linux Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left yes verse, block, poetry layout pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content yes yes clucene, wildcard and regex searches strongs +parsing automatic Yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish Yes Read Aloud

|}

Other

Application Operating Systems Portable Extramodular content Module Creation and user editable content Other
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes Yes Yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes - including commentaries yes Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Lists in left-hand pane Yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese Yes Portable version word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left yes Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search Strongs, parsing (automatic) Yes Yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no verse, block, poetry layout no no no regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches. Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box Verse lists and verse tagging Incomplete (no RtoL) No PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) no Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Yes English Yes
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ Multi-window, each module gets it's window yes verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strongs, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows Three-pane with tabbed library navigation verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, regex and clucene searches Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click) Yes (incomplete: no RtoL) Yes Yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows, Linux Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left yes verse, block, poetry layout pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content yes yes clucene, wildcard and regex searches strongs +parsing automatic Yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish Yes Read Aloud

|}

Full Table

Application Operating Systems Window Layout Several texts open at same time? Text Display Ancillary texts Parallel display Daily Devotion Search Features Dictionary Look-up Verse Lists Localization Support GUI Languages RtoL Language Support Portable Special Features
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes Yes Yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes verse, block, poetry layout no yes - including commentaries yes Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Lists in left-hand pane Yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese Yes Portable version word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left yes Search in open modules; Strong's number or lemma search Strongs, parsing (automatic) Yes Yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no verse, block, poetry layout no no no regex and wildcard searches, indexed searches (similar to clucene) cross-verse proximity searches. Strongs Parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box Verse lists and verse tagging Incomplete (no RtoL) No PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) no Bible search with wildcards Manual look-up Yes English Yes
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ Multi-window, each module gets it's window yes verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, phrase search, logic operators, grouping, Strongs, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strongs, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows Three-pane with tabbed library navigation verse, block layout yes yes wildcard, regex and clucene searches Strongs + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click) Yes (incomplete: no RtoL) Yes Yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows, Linux Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left yes verse, block, poetry layout pre-book, pre-chapter and pre-verse content yes yes clucene, wildcard and regex searches strongs +parsing automatic Yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portugues, Swedish Yes Read Aloud
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