Dmoz's search should be modified

I searched for "Free Web space" on Dmoz

Instead of getting the below result

http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Web_Design_and_Development/Hosting/Free/Business/

I got these results

http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=free+web+space (Not related to Free web space in anyway)

It can be a very good directory if it's search is modified

 

I agree with you about the search functionality. It's always been perfunctory on its best days.

The new staffers (I think there are 6 of 'em) are in planning mode currently, but I'll be surprised if the search function isn't rebuilt into a much better delivery system.

 

I think that if AOL wanted to have their own search again they could utilize DMOZ as it's core system for indexing. That way they could have hand selected sites which for most categories it would week out much of the spam and crap found in google. It's certainly something worth mentioning, especially if they are still brain storming.

Cooled sites could be featured (Affiliate sites could be a hidden secondary ), and then the rest of the site could fall in behind under relevance. A few more editors and a bit better of a quality Control system (sorry Robozilla, you are just not enough) and I think that AOL could possibly hold it's own in the SE market.

As it stands they are just a Google clone *shrug* they might as well take advantage of their free editor resource.

 

Might not be a bad idea.

Don't know if I'd worry about highlighting the cooled sites tho. I think the main reason they even leave the function there is it's helpful at identifying the slower thinking abusers... the ones that don't know cooling their own site is sorta gonna show up in the edit logs.

 

That would be a good idea if they are brain storming how to commit suicide.

The only reason that Google is still hanging to DMOZ is because it doesn't cost them anything and it is so useless with exception of SEO manipulation that is no danger to Google. If anytime they feel that ODP actually has a future as search engine, they will only need to drop it from Google or penalize sites in DMOZ which would result in mass exodus of ODP editors and that will be the end of ODP.

 

I doubt making our search function better would threaten Google so terribly they'd need to penalize us.

They don't strike me as being that paranoid.

 

But that would take your porn sites out, guess that would mean you would want to give up your editall and 9 other editor accounts.

Great bring it on.

 

Qryztufre suggestion was more than improving search function:

 

I still find Dmoz as a more useful resource than others ,but the problem it has not been used properly.

 

I agree with you, It will be good to improve their search. sometime it 's quite difficult for me to find somthing in DMOZ

 

DMOZ make it clear that they are not a search engine, though they do provide core directory services for some search engines -- including some popular ones like Google:
http://www.dmoz.org/help/geninfo.html

In addition, DMOZ's public side is freely downloadable and usable under license so any website is able to write their own search for DMOZ's data:
http://www.dmoz.org/help/getdata.html

Few sites that I know of have downloaded the DMOZ data and fronted it with anything that adds much value -- Thumbshots.org and the Google Directory are the only ones that spring to mind.

But the intention is clear -- no need to wait for DMOZ to improve their search (and even if you do, they may improve it according to their priorities, not yours). Instead, write your own improved search, and gift it to the world.

Digitalpoint's DMOZ forum is full of posts asserting that DMOZ does not do what the poster wants them to do. This is an opportunity to bypass that critique and directly do something that you want -- ie write a better DMOZ search.

And, if it is any good, you stand to make a lot of money from it -- look at Google as an example and an inspiration.

 

Their goal is the end user and that is most certainly a good thing, though as it stands their search engine sucks eggs and that is a bad thing (for even their end user). So any way one looks at it, it would be a good thing to give it at least a good tweaking.

Improving the quality of the search would also help the editors by removing a few of the odd restrictions that have been placed on it.

Truly sound advice!

 

Search among other things needs sorting and I think will be. But what restrictions, even odd restrictions, are placed on editors because of search beats me.

 

The search function is very limited on many levels, and if you can not see that, then how do you navigate through the directory, or for that matter function enough on the world wide web to find site worthy of inclusion?

Don't tell me you think there is nothing wrong with the search feature...if you think it's all okey dokey then I'll know the true reasons for posting under your chosen alias.

 

Q, have you stopped being able to read, don't tell me you have been looking at the gworld sites.

I said that search needed fixing, but what restrictions does that put on ODP editors, I always use one of the editor tools to search the directory, didn't you find that in your short stay?

 

I wish to know one thing

Whether I can make an exclusive search engine only with listings of Dmoz?

 

I certainly believe it's possible...in fact, I think Alexa may do that, as my site was not in their directory till around the time I was listed in DMOZ. Though, that could have just been odd timing. You just need to make sure you are conforming to their guidelines.

Downloading ODP Data]
Get the Definitive Directory of the Web for your site ...
How to Link to the ODP]
Show your support by linking to us from your site ...
Sites Using ODP Data]
Google, AOL/Netscape, Lycos, and hundreds more ...

 

google coop will let you create a site-specific search
http://www.google.com/coop/

 

Heh, that's actually a good idea. The google search is pretty up-to-date in DMOZ as back before the recent directory.google update the directory search was still giving listings from DMOZ rather then it's own pages.

A DMOZ clone + Coop == an all-in-one site with little to no work to be done on your part other then set up...but good luck. You'll have to battle duplicate content filters, and the notion that it's a clone site (directory.google seems to be immune from the clone issue *boggle*).

Either way, with proper promoting, it could likely be a huge success.

 

If a make Search Engine whether I have to display the editor banners at

http://www.dmoz.org/become_an_editor/ banners in my site?