Moulin, Kiwix, Linterweb...

[joan]

Hello,

I've been watching the progress on Moulin for some time, it is such an
interesting project.
(I hope one day I'll have more time so I can try to contribute)

Could you expand a bit more on how Moulin relates to Kiwix, (and
Linterweb) ?
As far as I understood, Kiwix is the engine behind Moulin since late
2007.
Is it accurate to say that Moulin focus on distribution or are there
code changes to the kiwix app ?
Does the Kiwix/Linterweb issue affects Moulin in any way ?

What would be the areas that most need help ? Better tools to organise
data ? Tools to speed up / streamline process ? CPU time ? other ?

Thanks

[renaud gaudin]

Hi Joan,

Thank you for your interest in moulin !

> Could you expand a bit more on how Moulin relates to Kiwix, (and
> Linterweb) ?
> As far as I understood, Kiwix is the engine behind Moulin since late
> 2007.

Well, this is partly wrong.
We developed moulin on our own and started distributing it in 2006.
In early 2007, I've been contacted by Linterweb who was afraid of
moulin's success before the release of WikipediaOnDvd (based on
Kiwix).
During 2007, we started merging some code with Kiwix, but not
everything. Linterweb provided an account on a server to ease our
data-extraction-generation process and to host ISOs.

> Is it accurate to say that Moulin focus on distribution or are there
> code changes to the kiwix app ?

Yes. Until now, we've done almost everything on our own: code and
distribution, but for a long time, we've asked Kiwix to fusion to be
able to focus on distribution. Kiwix agreed and started this way but
the Linterweb issue delayed the release of the new file format (and
according tool-chain).
Now, we're waiting for the next version of Kiwix (based on OpenZIM) to
adapt it and distribute it. It would be our first version without
"code-value" from us.

> Does the Kiwix/Linterweb issue affects Moulin in any way ?

Yes, they shutdown the server without even telling us. Fortunately,
Kiwix (via Wikimedia CH) set up a new one quickly so that we could
continue to distribute ISOs.

> What would be the areas that most need help ? Better tools to organise
> data ? Tools to speed up / streamline process ? CPU time ? other ?

I think that now, the only thing we need is the OpenZIM project to
release it's format spec, according toolchain and reading library.
This is due (as beta) for this summer.

Let me know if your need further informations,

renaud

[joan]

Thank you very much for the extensive answer !