Choosing a SWORD program

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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.

  • 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 Strong's, stemming etc) within preset and customised scopes.
  • Strong's, morphological info, cross references and footnotes
  • All frontends listed beleow are undergoing more or less active development.
  • verse and block layout

Side-by-Side Comparison of Leading SWORD Applications

Module Support

Application Operating Systems Unlock Locked Modules (via GUI) RtoL Modules Daily Devotions Book/Chapter Introductions User Editable Module Content
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) yes yes no no
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) yes yes yes] (automatic) no no
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux yes yes Personal Commentary
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux yes no yes (automatic) Chapters but not books no
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux no yes no no
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ yes yes
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) yes yes yes yes Personal Commentary
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs yes yes yes (automatic) yes Personal Commentary, Journal, all exportable
SwordBible Windows yes yes (automatic) no no

Module Manager Support

Application Operating Systems Locked Modules (via GUI) Multiple Repositories Archiving Indexing New Content Immediately Available? Other Features
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) yes yes no yes
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux yes no no yes zip installer, download from CrossWire only
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux no no no no
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) yes yes yes no
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs yes yes yes yes Show available updates, Show uninstalled modules.
SwordBible Windows yes no no

Image Module Support

Application Operating Systems Image GenBook Support Other Image Module Support Image Formats Image Resizing
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.)
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) yes no no
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux yes no
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) yes Images can be incorporated into all module types png (in version 1.5.12+), jpg, bmp
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs yes All modules png, jpg, tiff, gif, bmp yes

Windowing and Display

Application Operating Systems Window Layout Several texts open at same time? Poetry Layout Complex Scripts (test with Burmese module (font))
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Two-pane with tabs and library navigation on right yes yes
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Multiple windows with flexible arrangement and library navigation on left
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux 1-7 tiled subwindows, repositioning/hiding of panes. no yes (two-level poetry, indented, verse numbers at side) yes
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux 1 or 2 panes (library navigation in Firefox sidebar) 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 no
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) Three-pane with tabbed library navigation only using Parallel display for Bibles yes, but not indented no
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs Four-pane with library navigation, verse lists, etc. on left, multiple tabs, separate dialogs, saved sessions yes yes yes

Search and Dictionary

Application Operating Systems Indexed Search Features Cross Verse Proximity Search GenBook and Commentary search several module search Dictionary Look-up
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Lucene yes
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Lucene yes Manual look-up
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux CLucene Strong's + parsing (automatic)
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux Custom yes (proper cross-verse proximity searching, allowing phrases across verse boundaries) yes no Strong's + parsing (automatic) full list of topics with topic entry box
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux Lucene yes Manual look-up
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+ grouping, Strong's, Morph, Apple SearchKit Strong's, Morph (automatic)
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) CLucene no yes no Strong's + parsing (automatic) and glossary (on click)
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs CLucene no yes yes (create lists of modules to search) Strong's + parsing automatic, glossary (on click)
SwordBible Windows no no Yes no Strong's, Morph and glossary on click

Bookmarking, Tagging, Listing and Notes

Application Operating Systems Permanent Bookmarks, Tags or Verse Lists Nestable With Comments Exportable Study Notes
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) manual and search result
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) manual and search result yes
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux yes
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux manual and search result no yes no no
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux no
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) manual and search result yes no yes
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs manual and search result yes no no yes
SwordBible yes

Localization

Application Operating Systems Localization Support GUI RtoL Support GUI Languages
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) yes yes English, Indonesian
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) yes yes English, German, Farsi, Chinese, Vietnamese
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux yes no English, Vietnamese
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux English
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) yes no Afrikaans, Česky, Deutsch, English, Suomi, Magyar, Bahasa Indonesia, 日本語, Polski, Português, Slovenščina
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs yes yes English, German, French, Finnish, Farsi, Czech, Hebrew, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish
SwordBible Windows English

Other

Application Operating Systems Portable Extramodular Content Other
Alkitab Bible Study Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleDesktop (JSword) Any system with Java (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Portable version Bible Reading Plan word-by-word comparison of Bible versions
BibleTime (see also Kio-Sword) Linux Bible Study HOWTO
BPBible (wxPython) Windows, Linux PortableApps.com edition gospel harmonies; Guess the Verse game; display Strong's headwords;
FireBible (JSword/FireFox) Firefox web browser in Windows, Mac, Linux
MacSword version 1.3.x Mac OSX 10.3+, version 1.4.x Mac OSX 10.4+
The SWORD Project for Windows Windows (95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7) portable parallel verse display, transliteration
Xiphos (GNOME) (formerly GnomeSword) Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7), Linux, BSDs Read Aloud, pseudo-interlinear display of Strong's/morphology, transliteration into Latin characters
SwordBible Windows portable Verse lists with prefilled topics, One year daily reading plans