Merobase
Encyclopedia
Merobase is a software search engine
that allows developers to find, share and reuse software components from the Internet
. The engine harvests software components from a large variety of sources, including Apache, SourceForge
, and Java.net. It finished its beta phase and went live in March 2007.
A unique feature of merobase compared to other code search engines is its ability to support interface-driven searches – that is, searches based on the abstract interface
that a component offers rather than on the text in its source code. This allows merobase to support searches for binary components (e.g. Java bytecode
, .NET assemblies) and web services, as well as source code, and significantly enhances its precision.
Merobase Plugins are available for Mozilla Firefox
and Internet Explorer
, as well as for well known IDE’s such as Eclipse.
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
that allows developers to find, share and reuse software components from the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The engine harvests software components from a large variety of sources, including Apache, SourceForge
SourceForge
SourceForge Enterprise Edition is a collaborative revision control and software development management system. It provides a front-end to a range of software development lifecycle services and integrates with a number of free software / open source software applications .While originally itself...
, and Java.net. It finished its beta phase and went live in March 2007.
A unique feature of merobase compared to other code search engines is its ability to support interface-driven searches – that is, searches based on the abstract interface
Interface (computer science)
In the field of computer science, an interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software...
that a component offers rather than on the text in its source code. This allows merobase to support searches for binary components (e.g. Java bytecode
Bytecode
Bytecode, also known as p-code , is a term which has been used to denote various forms of instruction sets designed for efficient execution by a software interpreter as well as being suitable for further compilation into machine code...
, .NET assemblies) and web services, as well as source code, and significantly enhances its precision.
Merobase Plugins are available for Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
and Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
, as well as for well known IDE’s such as Eclipse.