Comments on: Why an Open Source Search Algorithm is the Answer http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/ A blog on productivity tools, tips and hacks for Web professionals, including topics on search marketing (SEO and SEM), Web analytics and on-line trends Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:52:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mark - Productivity501 http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-6570 Mark - Productivity501 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:44:16 +0000 http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/#comment-6570 If Google were to publish exactly how their search algorithm worked, I wonder if their search results would be less useful. It seems like that could increase the amount of spam as people found ways to take advantage of it. If someone wanted to create an opensource search engine the question is if anyone would use it. If the results were somehow better than Google, people would eventually switch from Google. However it seems likely that the results wouldn't be as good as Google because of the reasons mentioned above. It is an interesting idea though. If Google were to publish exactly how their search algorithm worked, I wonder if their search results would be less useful. It seems like that could increase the amount of spam as people found ways to take advantage of it.

If someone wanted to create an opensource search engine the question is if anyone would use it. If the results were somehow better than Google, people would eventually switch from Google. However it seems likely that the results wouldn’t be as good as Google because of the reasons mentioned above.

It is an interesting idea though.

]]> By: Da Vinci http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-5839 Da Vinci Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:17:35 +0000 http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/#comment-5839 Hey Matt, thanks for stopping by. My argument is that a search algorithm is a perfect candidate for social computing. I don't think monopolies are necessarily bad, but as a monopoly they have a level of social responsibility. Secrets are also okay. In Google's case their lightning fast response times, huge database of indexed pages and their ability to crawl sites frequently is what gives them the competitive edge and the technology behind that can certainly remain a secret. When you buy a computer, you want to know what components you are getting (Intel 2.6GHz), but don't care about how the components were manufactured and patented technologies they use. Likewise, from a SEO customer perspective, it will be nice to know exactly which elements of your Web page are important and which aren't, instead of guessing. Hey Matt, thanks for stopping by. My argument is that a search algorithm is a perfect candidate for social computing. I don’t think monopolies are necessarily bad, but as a monopoly they have a level of social responsibility. Secrets are also okay. In Google’s case their lightning fast response times, huge database of indexed pages and their ability to crawl sites frequently is what gives them the competitive edge and the technology behind that can certainly remain a secret.

When you buy a computer, you want to know what components you are getting (Intel 2.6GHz), but don’t care about how the components were manufactured and patented technologies they use. Likewise, from a SEO customer perspective, it will be nice to know exactly which elements of your Web page are important and which aren’t, instead of guessing.

]]> By: Matt http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-5823 Matt Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:11:37 +0000 http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/#comment-5823 Follow up - I was responding to your comment 'keeping their search algorithm a secret is just plain evil.' but the plug-in ate the characters I surrounded it with. Follow up – I was responding to your comment ‘keeping their search algorithm a secret is just plain evil.’ but the plug-in ate the characters I surrounded it with.

]]> By: Matt http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/comment-page-1/#comment-5822 Matt Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:10:37 +0000 http://www.davinciplanet.com/why-an-open-source-search-algorithm-is-the-answer/#comment-5822 > I totally disagree. It sounds like your defense is that their search offering is a monopoly on the web, but there's nothing wrong with monopolies. It's when things start hurting the consumer (or when Google uses that advantage illegally) that it becomes an anti-trust issue. What secrets should be held by companies today? Any? >

I totally disagree. It sounds like your defense is that their search offering is a monopoly on the web, but there’s nothing wrong with monopolies. It’s when things start hurting the consumer (or when Google uses that advantage illegally) that it becomes an anti-trust issue.

What secrets should be held by companies today? Any?

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