is Trisquel's dictionary saass?

It's based on use of a server, and you can customize what this server is. Using someone else's dictionary database probably isn't SaaSS; looking up words in their database isn't something you would be able to do in your computer. On the other hand, it's true that you don't necessarily need to access someone else's dictionary remotely; you could have a local copy and access that.

I think remote dictionaries have a legitimate use: making sure the definition you're reading is up-to-date. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about using remote dictionaries for all look-ups, though.

Hello all, where can I download a free .dict format dictionary?

"I think remote dictionaries have a legitimate use: making sure the definition you're reading is up-to-date."

I don't think the meaning of words change that fast, assuming you are talking about a dictionary, and not an encyclopedia.

"looking up words in their database isn't something you would be able to do in your computer."

The premise in this statement is that we want to do the task with a server. That premise affects the answer ("yes, we can only look up a word on a server, if we use a server).

I don't think that we need a server to look up words in a dictionary [1]. If remote dictionaries have a legitimate use, maybe the dictionary could offer options: to download dictionaries, or to use a server.

If Trisquel won't come with definition files, the server option may be worth keeping for people who have low-bandwidth Internet connections.

[1] Here's a dictionary application that doesn't depend on a server for each search:
https://code.google.com/p/quickdic-dictionary/

muhammed said:
> If remote dictionaries have a legitimate use, maybe the dictionary could offer
> options: to download dictionaries, or to use a server.

Right, and Dictionary does give you an option, though it's not obvious: point it to a locally running server. Of course, it really ought to just support dictionary files, and frankly it looks to me like a piece of crap; GoldenDict seems to be a much better choice.

В 00:27 +0100 на 10.03.2014 (пн), name at domain написа:
> It doesn't seem to work offline; I think that it checks a server for
> definitons. Or I haven't figured out how to use it properly/as software
> (strong possibility).

I'm guessing this is about the gnome-dictionary client. The client uses
the standard Internet protocol DICT. [1][2] Trisquel has a
service/daemon/server software in its repositories for the protocol. It
is called dictd. [3] There are also dictionaries [4] that should be used
with the local server.

The local server must be available in the client and selected as default
– Edit/Preferences.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dict

[2] http://www.dict.org/bin/Dict

[3]
aptitude show dictd

[4]
aptitude search ^dict-