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Posted to solr-user@lucene.apache.org by Memory Makers <me...@gmail.com> on 2011/10/24 21:56:03 UTC
Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Greetings guys,
Is there a good front end application / interface for solr?
Features I'm looking for are:
configure query interface (using non programatic features)
configure pagination
configure bookmarking of results
export results of a query to a csv or other format (JSON, etc.)
Is there any demand for such an application?
Thanks.
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>.
Well, if what you want is straightforward like this, why not just use and tweak the templates that come with Solr's VelocityResponseWriter?
Have a look at /browse from a recent Solr distro to see what I mean. It's very easily customizable.
Prism is my tinkering to pull the (Velocity, or otherwise) templating to another tier, yet keeping the templates very lean and clean for this type of purpose, so maybe you can find some value in using Prism, though admittedly it's just a quick (and somewhat dirty) hack at this point.
Erik
On Oct 25, 2011, at 08:34 , Fred Zimmerman wrote:
> what about something that's a bit less discovery-oriented? for my particular
> application I am most concerned with bringing back a straightforward "top
> ten" answer set and having users look at it. I actually don't want to bother
> them with faceting, etc. at this juncture.
>
> Fred
>
> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 7:40 AM, Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>>
>> On Oct 25, 2011, at 07:24 , Robert Stewart wrote:
>>
>>> It is really not very difficult to build a decent web front-end to SOLR
>> using one of the available client libraries
>>
>> Or even just not using any client library at all (other than an HTTP
>> library). I've done a bit of proof-of-concept/prototyping with a super
>> light weight (and of course Ruby!) approach with my Prism tinkering: <
>> https://github.com/lucidimagination/Prism>
>>
>> Yes, in general it's very straightforward to build a search UI that shows
>> results, pages through them, displays facets, and allows them to be clicked
>> and filter results and so on. Devil is always in the details, and having
>> saved searches, export, customizability, authentication, and so on makes it
>> a more involved proposition.
>>
>> If you're in a PHP environment, there is VUFind... again pretty
>> library-centric at first, but likely flexible enough to handle any Solr
>> setup - <http://vufind.org/>. For the Pythonistas, there's Kochief -
>> http://code.google.com/p/kochief/
>>
>> Being a Rubyist myself (and founder of Blacklight), I'm not intimately
>> familiar with the other solutions but the library world has done a lot to
>> get this sort of thing off the ground in many environments.
>>
>> Erik
>>
>>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Memory Makers <me...@gmail.com>.
Well https://github.com/evolvingweb/ajax-solr is fairly decent for that --
haven't used it in a while but that is a minimalist client -- however I find
it hard to customize.
MM.
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 8:34 AM, Fred Zimmerman <zi...@gmail.com>wrote:
> what about something that's a bit less discovery-oriented? for my
> particular
> application I am most concerned with bringing back a straightforward "top
> ten" answer set and having users look at it. I actually don't want to
> bother
> them with faceting, etc. at this juncture.
>
> Fred
>
> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 7:40 AM, Erik Hatcher <erik.hatcher@gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> >
> > On Oct 25, 2011, at 07:24 , Robert Stewart wrote:
> >
> > > It is really not very difficult to build a decent web front-end to SOLR
> > using one of the available client libraries
> >
> > Or even just not using any client library at all (other than an HTTP
> > library). I've done a bit of proof-of-concept/prototyping with a super
> > light weight (and of course Ruby!) approach with my Prism tinkering: <
> > https://github.com/lucidimagination/Prism>
> >
> > Yes, in general it's very straightforward to build a search UI that shows
> > results, pages through them, displays facets, and allows them to be
> clicked
> > and filter results and so on. Devil is always in the details, and having
> > saved searches, export, customizability, authentication, and so on makes
> it
> > a more involved proposition.
> >
> > If you're in a PHP environment, there is VUFind... again pretty
> > library-centric at first, but likely flexible enough to handle any Solr
> > setup - <http://vufind.org/>. For the Pythonistas, there's Kochief -
> > http://code.google.com/p/kochief/
> >
> > Being a Rubyist myself (and founder of Blacklight), I'm not intimately
> > familiar with the other solutions but the library world has done a lot to
> > get this sort of thing off the ground in many environments.
> >
> > Erik
> >
> >
>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Fred Zimmerman <zi...@gmail.com>.
what about something that's a bit less discovery-oriented? for my particular
application I am most concerned with bringing back a straightforward "top
ten" answer set and having users look at it. I actually don't want to bother
them with faceting, etc. at this juncture.
Fred
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 7:40 AM, Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> On Oct 25, 2011, at 07:24 , Robert Stewart wrote:
>
> > It is really not very difficult to build a decent web front-end to SOLR
> using one of the available client libraries
>
> Or even just not using any client library at all (other than an HTTP
> library). I've done a bit of proof-of-concept/prototyping with a super
> light weight (and of course Ruby!) approach with my Prism tinkering: <
> https://github.com/lucidimagination/Prism>
>
> Yes, in general it's very straightforward to build a search UI that shows
> results, pages through them, displays facets, and allows them to be clicked
> and filter results and so on. Devil is always in the details, and having
> saved searches, export, customizability, authentication, and so on makes it
> a more involved proposition.
>
> If you're in a PHP environment, there is VUFind... again pretty
> library-centric at first, but likely flexible enough to handle any Solr
> setup - <http://vufind.org/>. For the Pythonistas, there's Kochief -
> http://code.google.com/p/kochief/
>
> Being a Rubyist myself (and founder of Blacklight), I'm not intimately
> familiar with the other solutions but the library world has done a lot to
> get this sort of thing off the ground in many environments.
>
> Erik
>
>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>.
On Oct 25, 2011, at 07:24 , Robert Stewart wrote:
> It is really not very difficult to build a decent web front-end to SOLR using one of the available client libraries
Or even just not using any client library at all (other than an HTTP library). I've done a bit of proof-of-concept/prototyping with a super light weight (and of course Ruby!) approach with my Prism tinkering: <https://github.com/lucidimagination/Prism>
Yes, in general it's very straightforward to build a search UI that shows results, pages through them, displays facets, and allows them to be clicked and filter results and so on. Devil is always in the details, and having saved searches, export, customizability, authentication, and so on makes it a more involved proposition.
If you're in a PHP environment, there is VUFind... again pretty library-centric at first, but likely flexible enough to handle any Solr setup - <http://vufind.org/>. For the Pythonistas, there's Kochief - http://code.google.com/p/kochief/
Being a Rubyist myself (and founder of Blacklight), I'm not intimately familiar with the other solutions but the library world has done a lot to get this sort of thing off the ground in many environments.
Erik
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Robert Stewart <bs...@gmail.com>.
It is really not very difficult to build a decent web front-end to SOLR using one of the available client libraries (such as solrpy for python).
I recently build pretty full-featured search front-end to SOLR in python (using tornado web server and templates) and it was not difficult at all to build from scratch - it may have even been more work to learn and customize backlight. I also wanted to avoid adding yet another language - since lots of other back-end code was already in python...
On Oct 25, 2011, at 6:03 AM, Memory Makers wrote:
> Kool -- I was hoping to avoid adding another language :-( python/java/php
> were going to be it for me -- but I guess not.
>
> Thanks.
>
> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:02 AM, Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> You could be up and running with Blacklight by following the quickstart
>> instructions in only a few minutes, but Ruby and RoR know-how will be needed
>> to go further with the types of customizations you mentioned. Some things
>> will be purely in configuration sections (but still within Ruby code files)
>> and done easily, but some other customizations will require deeper
>> knowledge.
>>
>> With only a few minutes (given the prerequisites already installed) to give
>> it a try, might as well give it a go :) The Blacklight community is very
>> helpful too, so ask on their e-mail list for assistance, or tap into the
>> #blacklight IRC channel.
>>
>> Erik
>>
>>
>> On Oct 25, 2011, at 05:53 , Memory Makers wrote:
>>
>>> Looks very interesting -- actually I looked at it a while back but in a
>>> different context -- for a non RoR person how much of a learning curve is
>> it
>>> to set up?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Erik Hatcher <erik.hatcher@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Blacklight - http://projectblacklight.org/
>>>>
>>>> It's a full featured application fronting Solr. It's Ruby on Rails
>> based,
>>>> and powers many library front-ends but is becoming much more general
>> purpose
>>>> for other domains. See examples here:
>>>> https://github.com/projectblacklight/blacklight/wiki/Examples
>>>>
>>>> Also, the forensics domain has used it as well, as mentioned in the
>> slides
>>>> and talk I attended at Lucene Revolution earlier this year: <
>>>>
>> http://www.lucidimagination.com/blog/2011/06/01/solr-and-law-enforcement-highly-relevant-results-can-be-a-crime/
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Often the decision for an application layer like this is determined by
>> the
>>>> programming language and frameworks used. Blacklight is "opinionated"
>> (as
>>>> any other concrete implementation would be) in this regard. If it fits
>> your
>>>> tastes, it's a great technology to use.
>>>>
>>>> Erik
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Oct 24, 2011, at 15:56 , Memory Makers wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Greetings guys,
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there a good front end application / interface for solr?
>>>>>
>>>>> Features I'm looking for are:
>>>>> configure query interface (using non programatic features)
>>>>> configure pagination
>>>>> configure bookmarking of results
>>>>> export results of a query to a csv or other format (JSON, etc.)
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there any demand for such an application?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Memory Makers <me...@gmail.com>.
Kool -- I was hoping to avoid adding another language :-( python/java/php
were going to be it for me -- but I guess not.
Thanks.
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:02 AM, Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>wrote:
> You could be up and running with Blacklight by following the quickstart
> instructions in only a few minutes, but Ruby and RoR know-how will be needed
> to go further with the types of customizations you mentioned. Some things
> will be purely in configuration sections (but still within Ruby code files)
> and done easily, but some other customizations will require deeper
> knowledge.
>
> With only a few minutes (given the prerequisites already installed) to give
> it a try, might as well give it a go :) The Blacklight community is very
> helpful too, so ask on their e-mail list for assistance, or tap into the
> #blacklight IRC channel.
>
> Erik
>
>
> On Oct 25, 2011, at 05:53 , Memory Makers wrote:
>
> > Looks very interesting -- actually I looked at it a while back but in a
> > different context -- for a non RoR person how much of a learning curve is
> it
> > to set up?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Erik Hatcher <erik.hatcher@gmail.com
> >wrote:
> >
> >> Blacklight - http://projectblacklight.org/
> >>
> >> It's a full featured application fronting Solr. It's Ruby on Rails
> based,
> >> and powers many library front-ends but is becoming much more general
> purpose
> >> for other domains. See examples here:
> >> https://github.com/projectblacklight/blacklight/wiki/Examples
> >>
> >> Also, the forensics domain has used it as well, as mentioned in the
> slides
> >> and talk I attended at Lucene Revolution earlier this year: <
> >>
> http://www.lucidimagination.com/blog/2011/06/01/solr-and-law-enforcement-highly-relevant-results-can-be-a-crime/
> >>>
> >>
> >> Often the decision for an application layer like this is determined by
> the
> >> programming language and frameworks used. Blacklight is "opinionated"
> (as
> >> any other concrete implementation would be) in this regard. If it fits
> your
> >> tastes, it's a great technology to use.
> >>
> >> Erik
> >>
> >>
> >> On Oct 24, 2011, at 15:56 , Memory Makers wrote:
> >>
> >>> Greetings guys,
> >>>
> >>> Is there a good front end application / interface for solr?
> >>>
> >>> Features I'm looking for are:
> >>> configure query interface (using non programatic features)
> >>> configure pagination
> >>> configure bookmarking of results
> >>> export results of a query to a csv or other format (JSON, etc.)
> >>>
> >>> Is there any demand for such an application?
> >>>
> >>> Thanks.
> >>
> >>
>
>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>.
You could be up and running with Blacklight by following the quickstart instructions in only a few minutes, but Ruby and RoR know-how will be needed to go further with the types of customizations you mentioned. Some things will be purely in configuration sections (but still within Ruby code files) and done easily, but some other customizations will require deeper knowledge.
With only a few minutes (given the prerequisites already installed) to give it a try, might as well give it a go :) The Blacklight community is very helpful too, so ask on their e-mail list for assistance, or tap into the #blacklight IRC channel.
Erik
On Oct 25, 2011, at 05:53 , Memory Makers wrote:
> Looks very interesting -- actually I looked at it a while back but in a
> different context -- for a non RoR person how much of a learning curve is it
> to set up?
>
> Thanks.
>
> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Blacklight - http://projectblacklight.org/
>>
>> It's a full featured application fronting Solr. It's Ruby on Rails based,
>> and powers many library front-ends but is becoming much more general purpose
>> for other domains. See examples here:
>> https://github.com/projectblacklight/blacklight/wiki/Examples
>>
>> Also, the forensics domain has used it as well, as mentioned in the slides
>> and talk I attended at Lucene Revolution earlier this year: <
>> http://www.lucidimagination.com/blog/2011/06/01/solr-and-law-enforcement-highly-relevant-results-can-be-a-crime/
>>>
>>
>> Often the decision for an application layer like this is determined by the
>> programming language and frameworks used. Blacklight is "opinionated" (as
>> any other concrete implementation would be) in this regard. If it fits your
>> tastes, it's a great technology to use.
>>
>> Erik
>>
>>
>> On Oct 24, 2011, at 15:56 , Memory Makers wrote:
>>
>>> Greetings guys,
>>>
>>> Is there a good front end application / interface for solr?
>>>
>>> Features I'm looking for are:
>>> configure query interface (using non programatic features)
>>> configure pagination
>>> configure bookmarking of results
>>> export results of a query to a csv or other format (JSON, etc.)
>>>
>>> Is there any demand for such an application?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Memory Makers <me...@gmail.com>.
Looks very interesting -- actually I looked at it a while back but in a
different context -- for a non RoR person how much of a learning curve is it
to set up?
Thanks.
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>wrote:
> Blacklight - http://projectblacklight.org/
>
> It's a full featured application fronting Solr. It's Ruby on Rails based,
> and powers many library front-ends but is becoming much more general purpose
> for other domains. See examples here:
> https://github.com/projectblacklight/blacklight/wiki/Examples
>
> Also, the forensics domain has used it as well, as mentioned in the slides
> and talk I attended at Lucene Revolution earlier this year: <
> http://www.lucidimagination.com/blog/2011/06/01/solr-and-law-enforcement-highly-relevant-results-can-be-a-crime/
> >
>
> Often the decision for an application layer like this is determined by the
> programming language and frameworks used. Blacklight is "opinionated" (as
> any other concrete implementation would be) in this regard. If it fits your
> tastes, it's a great technology to use.
>
> Erik
>
>
> On Oct 24, 2011, at 15:56 , Memory Makers wrote:
>
> > Greetings guys,
> >
> > Is there a good front end application / interface for solr?
> >
> > Features I'm looking for are:
> > configure query interface (using non programatic features)
> > configure pagination
> > configure bookmarking of results
> > export results of a query to a csv or other format (JSON, etc.)
> >
> > Is there any demand for such an application?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
>
Re: Is there a good web front end application / interface for solr
Posted by Erik Hatcher <er...@gmail.com>.
Blacklight - http://projectblacklight.org/
It's a full featured application fronting Solr. It's Ruby on Rails based, and powers many library front-ends but is becoming much more general purpose for other domains. See examples here: https://github.com/projectblacklight/blacklight/wiki/Examples
Also, the forensics domain has used it as well, as mentioned in the slides and talk I attended at Lucene Revolution earlier this year: <http://www.lucidimagination.com/blog/2011/06/01/solr-and-law-enforcement-highly-relevant-results-can-be-a-crime/>
Often the decision for an application layer like this is determined by the programming language and frameworks used. Blacklight is "opinionated" (as any other concrete implementation would be) in this regard. If it fits your tastes, it's a great technology to use.
Erik
On Oct 24, 2011, at 15:56 , Memory Makers wrote:
> Greetings guys,
>
> Is there a good front end application / interface for solr?
>
> Features I'm looking for are:
> configure query interface (using non programatic features)
> configure pagination
> configure bookmarking of results
> export results of a query to a csv or other format (JSON, etc.)
>
> Is there any demand for such an application?
>
> Thanks.