Application: BPBible
Category: Education
Description: BPBible is a flexible Bible study tool built on the SWORD API in Python, meaning that it supports Bibles, Commentaries, Dictionaries, generic books, searching and more. A key feature of BPBible is its proximity based searching, providing a more natural search, which can go across verse boundaries. In addition, BPBible Portable updates any references to SWORD module paths on your USB disk/storage device.
Download BPBible Portable 0.3.1 Pre-Release 2 [13.5MB download / 8.6MB installed or 16.5MB with resources]
(MD5: de4e4065e58f2ab8b88df47397bfd554)
Release Notes:
0.3.1 Pre-Release 2 (2008-09-10):
- Included the following modules as a component: WEB, KJV, StrongsHebrew, StrongsGreek
- Fixed a couple of bugs in the installer
- Did a few other changes in the launcher, removed secondary launching, waiting etc. which are only needed for Live mode (RunLocally)
- We now have DefaultData (so that if the resources are installed, the WEB will be the default text, not the alphabetically first KJV, as the WEB is probably what the ordinary user will prefer)
- Changed help.html references to portableapps.com's generic page
- I think that it's now ready, barring any issues John reckons it should be ready for release Thursday or Friday.
0.3.1 Pre-Release 1 (2008-08-30):
- Up to pre-release! (thanks John!)
- Nice splash screen (thanks John!)
- Rebuilt slightly buggy build, also shrank it a bit.
For older release notes, go to the old BPBible Development Test page.
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Hmm, looks nice I'll try it
I've just tested Pre-Release 1 on Vista Ultimate sp1, and it seems to work well and leaves nothing obvious behind.
Works fine for me on XP SP2, limited. also, is there a way of decreasing the size?
btw, the initial text can be a pain to set up
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Decreasing the size? It's already gone down from 22MB to 8.6MB, through use of UPX etc. It would have been about a megabyte smaller, except it wasn't working with the extra-compressed library.zip
As for getting a Bible text, the instructions are there in the BPBible window, and I'll be adding instructions to the help section. Also, I've contacted the Standard Bible Society about bundling the English Standard Version of the Bible with BPBible Portable, which would make it a lot easier for an ordinary user to start on. So there should be at least Pre-Release 2 before we publish it.
(☺ is the closest we'll get to a graphical smiley atm
)
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
Great job, Chris. It's a really nice app. Honestly, I've been having issues with SWORD, so I'm glad that you're now up to pre-release and there will be an official Bible app. I'm abandoning SWORD Portable, so I'm actually really glad that you're doing this.
Thanks a bunch.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
Bad news: The Standard Bible Society has responded to my request to allow us to bundle the ESV with BPBible Portable, but all that they have said is "We would like all distribution to go through CrossWire." So it would seem that that is no go.
:P)
Opinions wanted: Which Bible version should we bundle/try to get permission to bundle? I'm currently thinking that the WEB (World English Bible) is the best option, mostly as it's public domain. The main con of the WEB for the average user is that it translates God's name as Yahweh, rather than the much more common "LORD". For me, I don't mind, though. If I don't get any responses in the next day or so, I'll churn out BPBible Portable 0.3.1 Pre-Release 2, with the World English Bible as a component in the installer (you know, like multi-lingual support).
(Versions must be in this list, preferably in the English section
Semi-bad news: BPBible Portable doesn't work under Windows 98 - it says it can't start wxWidgets. This may be an issue with the bundling technique used, I haven't had a chance to test the standard BPBible build yet, so I can't really say. While I'm thinking of that, could someone test it under WINE? Windows ME would also be good, as it may have the same issues as 98. I don't think 95 is worth testing! But it definitely does work under Windows 2000, XP and Vista, so that's good.
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
Good old, KJV?
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
I thought about it, but I think that it's probably not really the sort of thing we want in a modern PortableApps.com application.
We probably really want people to be able to understand it.
Good news: I've got the component installer thing working fine with the WEB
I've also made some modifications to the launcher (to be finished off and tested hopefully later today), and put a section on installing resources into the support page (see here).
I hope to publish Pre-Release 2 this evening, but it will quite probably end up tomorrow, as I've got a computer to fix up after school (hard disk failure, reinstall XP etc :D)
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
I agree, KJV is probably not the way to go, mainly for readability issues. "Thees" and "thous" are kind of difficult to read. But I would recommend UKJV or BBE or AKJV. They're all based more closely on the NKJV, and the BBE based more on the NIV. I personally think that BBE would be a good choice, just for readability. If not, the AKJV.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
I reckon that the WEB is the better choice, myself. What do others think?
(Or the AKJV, it's also public domain.)
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
What about the Bible in Worldwide English? It's a nice translation, but I'm not sure about copyright issues.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
BWE is a New Testament only translation, and very vague on copyright.
Again, I find it too simplistic - and its verses often don't seem to match up with other translations (off by one, or something).
The BBE is too simplistic for my taste. It uses a very small vocabulary, so many of the nuances of the text are missing. It also can take a much longer route to a relatively simple expression.
The WEB isn't perfect either, but I think it is better.
An example comparing BBE, KJV and WEB:
Genesis 4:15
BBE:
15 And the Lord said, Truly, if Cain is put to death, seven lives will be taken for his. And the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one might put him to death.
KJV:
15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
WEB:
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.
Ah, but I do like it. Guess I'm just that weird.
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
has been released. Should be ready to go official now. Comments would be nice.
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
If thees and thous are so hard to read why were they used in the post
just had to do that 
I think kjv would be fine, many people still use it. On the other hand if you want accuracy the ASV is the most accurate of the public domain (I think it is pb.) bibles and is fairly readable.
First, I think this is a terrific portable bible program. Second, for what its worth I think the 'ESV' is the best literal translation available for this program and 'Gods Word' is the best paraphrase. However, I guess their copyrights would mean they may not be able to include in the initial package... a shame! Although could you ask the copyright holders for permission or must it be public domain only.
Of the public domain ones, I guess 'WEB' is the best for the modern reader, but leave in 'KJV' for the Strongs Numbers.
Chris contacted the ESV people, who say they would rather have Crosswire distribute the ESV. It may be worth trying to contact them again to use it in a later version.
I haven't tried contacting the people behind GodsWord though.
I too use the KJV for strong's numbers - but the KJV with strong's numbers is rather a big module (so much extra markup...). Also, if you distributed it with that, you would really want to have the Strong's dictionaries as well.
Base installer: 8MB
WEB: 1MB
KJV+Strongs: 4.5MB
Current total: 13.5MB
(Please note that if you select the extra resources component, you get all or none.)
So: does anyone have any final comments on this setup?
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
I've been playing with pre-release 2 on Vista Ultimate SP1. It seems to work well, the additional modules installed without problems, and it leaves nothing obvious behind either.
Hello Chris Morgan;
Sorry for the delay in responding. I did say I would a long time ago.
This prerelease two looks very nice. I have used it for a while and it runs well on WinXP. I will try it out now on my home PC which is running Win2K Pro.
Frank
I just joined PortableApps.com but I have been using them for quite a while. I like checking the betas, This one is great I have been waiting for a good Bible program for my thumb drive! Thanks!
Hello Chris;
I like the program. I installed two dictionaries. I now have what I would consider a basic portable bible study tool.
My question or perhaps request would be for a uninstall feature similar to the install feature. I installed every thing from your pre release. Then decided that I would like to uninstall a few items. A uninstall books feature would be a great addition. Especially for those using this program from a small USB flash drive.
Frank D. Hubeny