Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
(Acts 17:11)

Latest version:
Apr 21,'08

1. Summary: what enhancements are envisioned for BerBible?
   
   • Dictionary capability
   • Incremental searching
   • Note-taking
   • Footnote capability
   • Cross-reference capability
   • Simple internationalization
   • Links to commentaries
   • Expanded number of Bible texts
   • Compressed / encrypted Bible texts for non-public domain Bibles
   • Palm pda and/or Pocket-PC versions
   • Integration with InVerse Scripture memorization freeware
   • Enhanced task-thread model
   • Smart packager website for download distribution
   • COM Automation for potential plug-in architecture by other front-ends
   • Improved XP collaborative development environment
   • Integration / links with sermon repositories
   
2. What is dictionary capability?
   BerBible would be able to detect the word underneath the mouse cursor (initially the selected word). If this word was in a preloaded dictionary, after a brief period of time (hover), a dictionary definition would show as a ToolTip. Eventurally, the preloaded dictionary could be augmented by user definitions.
3. What is incremental searching?
   The Search Matches List would be built after each entered letter (g.e.n might find 2000 matches, g.e.n.e might find 1000 matches, g.e.n.e.r might find 500 matches, g.e.n.e.r.a.t.i.o.n might find 88 matches, etc.). The current search algorithms might be fast enough with a modern computer to handle this, although this would probably be a switchable setting with a default of Off. This might involve implementation of worker threads to take advantage of modern hyper-threading CPU's.
4. What is note-taking?
   End-users would be allowed to enter their own notes about a specific verse. These entries would be preserved for subsequent sessions.
5. What is footnote capability?
   Published Bibles and fuller featured Bible software have provisions to show notes about a particular verse or verses. This could be comments such as found in Study Bibles, or information as to whether a verse is not found in certain texts.
6. What is cross-reference capability?
   Published Bibles and fuller featured Bible software have provisions to show other verses that are related to the current verse. For example, the short Sermon on the Mount in Luke would have cross-references to the corresponding verses in Matthew. Quotes in the New Testament would reference the corresponding Old Testament verse. The software would implement jump links to the related verse. This capability is one of the key advantages of Bible software over published hardcopy Bibles.
7. What are links to commentaries?
   Fuller featured Bible software provides direct links to commentaries for a specific verse. You can more or less easily consult what Matthew Henry, John Wesley, John MacArther, or others have to say about a verse or verses. This can be extremely valuable, and is another key advantage of Bible software over published hardcopy Bibles. However, BerBible's sola scriptura approach is reluctant to proceed in this direction ... there is a definite tendency to become over-reliant on commentaries, to the point of considering commentaries (and confessions) as inspired. Other Bible software provides vast amount of linked commentaries.
8. What is simple internationalization?
   English speaking people are blessed to have a large number of very good Bibles available in modern English (some public domain, some commercial, some with minimal restrictions, etc.). Other languages are less blessed, and BerBible could eventually assist more directly in the Great Commission to make disciples in all the world.

   There are internationalization approaches utilized by other Bible freeware that uses unicode and can make a very large number of foreign languages available with their native fonts. However, there are some potential and actual problems: slow searches, complicated software development, bloated code and executables, complicated / baffling user interface, etc.

   BerBible might be able to improve upon this situtation by intentionally applying the Pareto 80/20 Principle - implement a solution that provides 80% of the capability with 20% of the effort. This would probably mean a limit to those languages which can be expressed with UTF-8 bit fonts.

   Also, the intentional simplicity of BerBible's user interface would reduce the effort for internationalizing the associated Help text. It isn't that difficult to have the Bible text show up in Spanish, German, Klingon, Swahili, or Chinese. The software also needs to have the books of the Bible translated (not difficult) AND the words on the dialog windows (more difficult) AND should translate the context sensitive help and other Help (can be VERY difficult). How useful is note-taking to a German or French user if the associated widget is English and the capability is explained in English?

   A very early version of BerBible provided quick and dirty prototypes of Spanish, German, and French versions. After all, there are only four static words on the main BerBible application window (Books, Search, Options, and Help). At that time, the internationalized versions took less than half a day to prepare -- all three. Internationalization of the Options Dialog, Help Dialog, and Context Sensitive Help could be deferred.

   
9. What is expanded number of Bible texts?
   BerBible now detects and makes available a limited number of public domain Bible texts. Three are in modern English (AKJV, BBE, and WEB). There are a number of Bible publisher who are very restrictive about letting Bible software make their texts available. There can be a large licensing fee. This includes the most popular modern English Bibles (NIV, NASB, etc.).

   Note that we are are definitely not anti-capitalist, not against commercial Bible software, and not against charging for published Bibles. There can be enormous expenses in preparing, publishing, and distributing Bibles.

   Other publishers are willing to make their Bible texts avaiable for little or no licensing fees. However, they have legitimate concerns that their intellectual property rights will be abused if their texts appear in plain text format. This group includes the MKJV, LITV, KJ21, AMP, ESV, MSG, and others.
   
   As of Sep, 2006, BerBible has been able to distribute the English Standard Version from Good News Publishing copyright 2001 as a free download.
   
   As of Oct, 2007, BerBible has received permission from Thomas Nelson, Inc. to distribute their New King James Version copyright 1984. The license is in the process of being formally completed, and a significant amount of work will be involved in getting it into BerBible format.

10. What is compressed / encrypted Bible texts?
    The master files from the publishers are converted to BerBible format, which is optimized for Search speed, and also provides protection to the publisher's intellectual property.
11. What is Palm pda and/or Pocket-PC versions?
    A version of BerBible for the Pocket-PC 2002 and later is available. A version for the Palm pda hand-held device is in beta status.
12. What is integration with InVerse?
    InVerse is a freeware program used for scripture memorization. Currently, it is a stand-alone program, but an objective is for it to be a wholly contained sub-system of BerBible.
13. What is enhanced task-thread model?
    Parallel searching of multiple Bible translations would benefit from multi-threading. More and more computers have cpu's with multiple cores.
14. What is smart packager website?
    Defer bundling of the download until the end-user has specified the particular Bible translations desired.
15. What is COM automation?
    BerBible would 'publish' an interface for other applications to use.
16. What is improved XP collaborative development environment?
    Two or more people working together. Currently, BerBible is mostly as 'lone ranger' development effort.
17. What is integration / links with sermon respositories?
    [answer to this under construction]

God is pleased when followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have a growing knowledge of His Bible, His Son, and His message of salvation and repentance for a lost and dying world.