.. _projects_labs:

================
JudaicaLink Labs
================

JudaicaLink Labs is the **main web interface** for searching, exploring, and interacting with the JudaicaLink **knowledge graph**. It provides an easy-to-use interface for users to query and browse structured data about Jewish history, culture, and scholarship.

Features of JudaicaLink Labs
============================

1. Entity Search
----------------

* Users can search for **persons, places, institutions, and texts**.
* Results display structured RDF data enriched with external links (e.g., **GND, Wikidata, DBpedia**).

2. Compact Memory Full-Text Search
----------------------------------

* Search within historical Jewish newspapers and periodicals.
* Indexed texts include metadata and direct links to **Compact Memory** digital archives.

3. Compact Memory Entity Extraction
-----------------------------------

* Extracted **named entities** (people, places, organizations) from digitized texts.
* Helps users find references to historical figures and events.

4. SPARQL Query Interface
--------------------------

* Advanced users can write **SPARQL queries** to access structured data.
* SPARQL endpoint: `https://data.judaicalink.org/sparql.html <https://data.judaicalink.org/sparql.html>`_.

How to Use JudaicaLink Labs
===========================

Searching for Entities
----------------------

1. Visit `https://labs.judaicalink.org <https://labs.judaicalink.org>`_.
2. Use the **search bar** to enter a term (e.g., "Moses Mendelssohn").
3. Browse entity pages containing structured data and external references.

Running a SPARQL Query
----------------------
1. Go to **SPARQL Endpoint**: `https://data.judaicalink.org/sparql.html <https://data.judaicalink.org/sparql.html>`_.
2. Enter a query, such as:

.. code-block:: sparql
    :linenos:

    SELECT ?person ?name WHERE {
       ?person a jl:Person ;
               rdfs:label ?name .
    } LIMIT 10

3. Execute the query and view results in **JSON, XML, or CSV format**.

Exploring Compact Memory Data
-----------------------------

1. Select **"Compact Memory Search"** on the search page.
2. Enter a keyword (e.g., "Zionism").
3. View search results with text snippets and source links.

Technical Overview
==================

Backend
-------

* Built using **Django (Python)**.
* Uses **SOLR** for optimized search indexing.
* Relies on **Apache Jena Fuseki** for SPARQL query processing.

Frontend
--------

* Developed with **Bootstrap and jQuery**.
* Plans to migrate to **Vue.js** for better interactivity.

Database & Data Sources
-----------------------

* RDF data stored in **Apache Jena Fuseki**.
* Data sources include **Compact Memory, YIVO, GND, and Wikidata**.


Contributing to JudaicaLink Labs
================================

Setting Up a Development Environment
------------------------------------

1. **Clone the repository**

.. code-block:: bash

   git clone https://github.com/judaicalink/judaicalink-labs.git
   cd judaicalink-labs


2. **Create a virtual environment**

.. code-block:: bash

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On macOS/Linux
   venv\Scripts\activate  # On Windows


3. **Install dependencies**

.. code-block:: bash

    pip install -r requirements.txt


4. **Run the development server**

.. code-block:: bash

   python manage.py runserver


5. Open **http://127.0.0.1:8000/** in your browser.

Troubleshooting & Support
=========================

* **Error accessing data?** Ensure the **SPARQL endpoint is online**.
* **Search not returning results?** Check if the dataset is indexed.
* **Need help?** Contact us at `https://labs.judaicalink.org/contact/ <https://labs.judaicalink.org/contact/>`_.

---
JudaicaLink Labs is an evolving platform—new features and datasets are regularly added. Stay updated with the latest changes on `https://www.judaicalink.org/news/ <https://www.judaicalink.org/news/>`_.