Bible study software done right: ISA2

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-08 14:18:08

The reason I write this post is that sometimes it's hard to find the right tool for the right job, and this software isn't ranking too high on SERPs.

Having struggled with buggy Xiphos recently, I'd like to raise awareness on alternatives: ISA 2 is an amazing software, it's free, but needs to run through wine.

Introduction
ISA (Interlinear Scripture Analyzer) is an Interlinear Bible and Concordance Search tool.
Etymological and idiomatic sublinears are closing the gap between translations and the original Bible text. ISA is designed to be dynamic and transparent, hereby enhancing objectivity. ISA has unique functions to present the interlinear renderings in a concise, systematic way and showing the connection between them. This will greatly improve word studies. Even possible errors in any of the databases are easily detected by this method.

The objective of Scripture4all (read "Scripture for all") is to make the original Scriptures accessible for a broad public by developing tools to bridge the gap between the original Bible texts and Bible translations.

Xiphos is great for comparing between more versions, has more resourses, but this program goes far beyond what Xiphos has to offer. IMHO, it's Bible study software done right.
Doing a packer -Ss Bible, doesn't give you too much despite the 15 hits. If I'm not the only one here appreciating such software, maybe we could help arch users stumble upon this blessing by including it into the AUR.

Last edited by distrohopperarched (2012-03-08 14:24:44)

SanskritFritz · 2012-03-08 16:18:21

This is Windows software. Download it, install and run with Wine. What would be the point to make an AUR package for it?

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-08 17:52:18

Good point.

I missed to see the platform gap. But what if we call it wine software instead ?

I think I got used to finding everything I ever needed in the AUR. But if I haven't answered your question in the OP: There's no linux equivalent. Not that I know of. I can't put it more plainly: packer -Ss Bible doesn't return ISA2 as an option. The reason I posted was, I thought we could fix this. Given that wine is part of linux, my idea didn't look that bad before you put your finger on this issue. I was even under the impression I saw precedence.

If this was a bad idea or if it's in the wrong place, move it, delete it, do what needs to be done.

Last edited by distrohopperarched (2012-03-08 18:30:44)

karol · 2012-03-08 18:03:39

If you're allowed to redistribute this software you can write a PKGBUILD and put it the AUR.
There are already some packages that run through wine e.g. https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=46925 This way you can install other dependencies - like unionfs-fuse in the case of death rally.

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-08 18:52:26

karol wrote:

If you're allowed to redistribute this software you can write a PKGBUILD and put it the AUR.
There are already some packages that run through wine e.g. https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=46925 This way you can install other dependencies - like unionfs-fuse in the case of death rally.

So it's not unheard of after all...

As for the license, It does prohibit hosting, but it also claims to be willing to make exceptions.
Do we even need to host anything except a PKGBUILD file, and link ? Excuse my ignorance, I haven't looked into this yet.

http://www.scripture4all.org/ISA2_help/License.htm

karol · 2012-03-08 18:59:52

Since you're not allowed to host it, you have to figure out how to get around

Please click the button below to start your download for
"ISA basic v2.1.5"

to automate downloading the file.

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-08 19:15:03

If the idea is viable and there are people who, like me, would appreciate this being in the AUR, I could contact the developer, as he claims he's willing to make up his mind.

The author reserves the right to make exceptions to any of these conditions, or alter these conditions, at any time.

I'll even maintain the package, but only if I have a green light from the community and the developer.

Last edited by distrohopperarched (2012-03-08 19:15:35)

karol · 2012-03-08 19:32:31

You can still create a PKGBUILD and tell users to download the exe file manually.
SanskritFritz already suggested a simple way of running it on Arch, w/o the need of creating and maintaining an AUR package.

hokasch · 2012-03-08 21:23:57

I'll even maintain the package, but only if I have a green light from the community and the developer.

Why? Just build a working PKGBUILD and maintain that in AUR - its the Arch User Repository... All info you need is in the wiki.

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-09 12:13:07

karol wrote:

You can still create a PKGBUILD and tell users to download the exe file manually.

This could be a temporary solution, until I find time to look up what a PKGBUILD actually is...

There's also an issue with the fact that while there's a greek font included, you'll see squares only in the OT.
So we have too dependencies: wine and culmus (which is a hebrew fonts package, but the only font that really works, displaying vowels too is "Frank Ruehl CLM").

Edit: a font that renders better than the above is ttf-sil-ezra.

Last edited by distrohopperarched (2012-03-09 17:35:35)

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-09 12:32:58

hokasch wrote:

I'll even maintain the package, but only if I have a green light from the community and the developer.
Why? Just build a working PKGBUILD and maintain that in AUR - its the Arch User Repository... All info you need is in the wiki.

I'm unable to contact the developer, apparently, yahoo mail is considered spam.

If there are no objections and someone is willing to help me I'd like to issue a PKGBUILD request... I'll do it on my own, but it'll take time.

ngoonee · 2012-03-11 06:42:14

distrohopperarched wrote:

If there are no objections and someone is willing to help me I'd like to issue a PKGBUILD request... I'll do it on my own, but it'll take time.

The only person for whom that time is worth spending is the person who wants the package done, really....

distrohopperarched · 2012-03-16 13:42:33

I just failed a second time to contact the author on a different address, but I can't get around rfc-ignorant.org. Any ideas ?

Until I get an answer from the developer, those installing manually might find the following information useful.

Known issues:

Running ISA from the command line, can be a bit tricky, but this works for me:

bash -c "cd \"$HOME/.wine/drive_c/ISA2/\" ; env WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine/ wine \"ISA.exe\""

As already noted somewhere above, rendering hebrew isn't perfect. Among the few fonts that display niqqudim (vocals) too, none are willing to render them in their proper place, though Ezra SIL, Frank Ruehl CLM, and particularly Deja Vu Sans do a more acceptable job, ALL of them fails to display a final niqqud, thus you can't tell whether a final shin is read "s" or "sh" for example. So if anyone is trying to learn hebrew, take note of this bug as you'll be mislead on a few occasions.

This is a wine issue, as leafpad renders well. Does anyone know how to fix this ?...

Note, only one interlinear level displays niqqudim: WLC_v.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-03-08 14:18:08

Bible study software done right: ISA2

#2 2012-03-08 16:18:21

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#3 2012-03-08 17:52:18

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#4 2012-03-08 18:03:39

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#5 2012-03-08 18:52:26

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#6 2012-03-08 18:59:52

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#7 2012-03-08 19:15:03

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#8 2012-03-08 19:32:31

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#9 2012-03-08 21:23:57

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#10 2012-03-09 12:13:07

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#11 2012-03-09 12:32:58

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#12 2012-03-11 06:42:14

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

#13 2012-03-16 13:42:33

Re: Bible study software done right: ISA2

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