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Building a Bigger Search Engine

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the size-isn't-everything dept.

skreuzer writes "Wired is running a story about a distributed web crawler called Grub. People who choose to download and run the client will assist in building the Web's largest, most accurate database of URLs. This database will be used to improve existing search engines' results by increasing the frequency at which sites are crawled and indexed. Conceivably, Grub's distributed network could enable state information to be gathered on every document on the Internet, each and every day."

10 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Haiku :-) by Ignorant+Aardvark · · Score: 4, Funny

    Grub searches the web
    Sniffing out all the good porn
    Not just bootloader

    I love being a Slashdot subscriber - it gives me fifteen minutes to figure out a good joke before anyone has a chance to post!

    Seriously though, shouldn't they change the name? "GRUB" is already a bootloader. They should change the name ... and I have a suggestion. Has anyone written a program called "E-Coli" yet? No? I can just imagine my mom ...

    "Agh! You have E-Coli on your computer!"

    --
    Cyde Weys Musings - Scrutinizing the inscrutable
    1. Re:Haiku :-) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
      Seriously though, shouldn't they change the name? "GRUB" is already a bootloader. They should change the name ...
      I'm wondering if the Grub bootloader developers will throw a tantrum and flood the Grub crawler developers' e-mail addresses, claiming that this will confuse people and harm the bootloader project.

      Hee hee.
    2. Re:Haiku :-) by Unoriginal+Nick · · Score: 5, Funny
      Seriously though, shouldn't they change the name? "GRUB" is already a bootloader. They should change the name ...

      How about Firebird? I'm sure that won't cause any problems :-)

    3. Re:Haiku :-) by Chester+K · · Score: 4, Funny

      As time approaches infinity, the number of software projects named Firebird also approaches infinity.

      It's ok though because they'll all still be different projects, so nobody will get confused.

      --

      NO CARRIER
  2. If previous results are any guide by carl67lp · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. Tech-savvy people will install this.
    2. Tech-savvy people tend to be loners.
    3. Loners most often search for porn.

    C1. Tech-savvy people search for porn.

    4. Items searched for most often reach the top of the list.
    5. Porn is searched for often by tech-savvy people.

    C2. Porn will be easier to find with this new search engine.

    Count me in!

    1. Re:If previous results are any guide by anon*127.0.0.1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      You're having trouble finding porn now?

      --
      I am NOT a man!
      I am a free number!
  3. Google's technology is superior... by eidechse · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...those pigeons can't be beat.

  4. Altruistic? by sulli · · Score: 5, Funny
    That's the dumbest thing I've heard in ages. Why should I help out a for-profit company for free?

    (Oh, I can't remember. Have I MetaModerated Recently?)

    --

    sulli
    RTFJ.
    1. Re:Altruistic? by R0 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Notice
      ======
      The main executable has been renamed to "grubclient" out of respect for the GNU Grub bootloader, who's executable is named "grub". They were out first, so we decided to pick another name. If you have a catchy suggestion for a new name, please let us know.

      I nominate "parasite".

  5. Re:You can run both by rabidcow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Grub is mainly interested in your excess bandwidth.

    Unfortunately, so is my ISP. In fact, they've already sold it to other customers.