How to use the command 'sdcv' (with examples)

This article will provide examples of using the command ‘sdcv’, which is a command-line dictionary client that allows users to look up definitions from installed dictionaries. Each use case below will demonstrate a specific functionality of the command.

Use case 1: Start ‘sdcv’ interactively

Code:

sdcv

Motivation: Starting ‘sdcv’ interactively allows users to access the command-line dictionary client and interact with it directly. This can be useful for users who want to quickly look up definitions without having to input command-line arguments each time.

Explanation: The command ‘sdcv’ without any arguments simply starts the ‘sdcv’ command-line dictionary client.

Example output:

Unable to connect to server!
Please make sure you have D-Bus system bus running.
Consult the README file for more information.
Failed to connect to server.

Use case 2: List installed dictionaries

Code:

sdcv --list-dicts

Motivation: Listing the installed dictionaries can be helpful for users who want to see the available dictionaries that they can use for looking up definitions.

Explanation: The ‘–list-dicts’ argument is used to instruct ‘sdcv’ to list all the dictionaries that are currently installed.

Example output:

stardict-langdao-ec-gb-2.4.2          精选英汉辞典 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1.8.1+)
stardict-oxford-gb-2.4.2               牛津英汉双解美化版
stardict-cedict-gb-2.4.2               汉英词典

Use case 3: Display a definition from a specific dictionary

Code:

sdcv --use-dict dictionary_name search_term

Motivation: Displaying a definition from a specific dictionary can be useful for users who have multiple dictionaries installed and want to search for definitions in a particular dictionary.

Explanation: The ‘–use-dict’ argument is followed by the name of the dictionary from which the user wants to search for the definition. The ‘search_term’ argument represents the word for which the user wants to find a definition.

Example output:

Yosemite (the park in California, US)            优山美地（加州,美国）

Use case 4: Look up a definition with a fuzzy search

Code:

sdcv search_term

Motivation: Performing a fuzzy search allows users to find definitions even if they don’t know the exact spelling or format of the word they are searching for.

Explanation: When the ‘search_term’ argument is entered without any preceding argument, ‘sdcv’ performs a fuzzy search for the term.

Example output:

Yosemite (the park in California, US)            优山美地（加州,美国）

Use case 5: Look up a definition with an exact search

Code:

sdcv --exact-search search_term

Motivation: Performing an exact search can be helpful for users who want to find the precise definition of a word without any variations or alternative meanings.

Explanation: The ‘–exact-search’ argument is followed by the ‘search_term’ argument, which represents the word for which the user wants to find an exact definition.

Example output:

Yosemite (the park in California, US)            优山美地（加州,美国）

Use case 6: Look up a definition and format the output as JSON

Code:

sdcv --json search_term

Motivation: Formatting the output as JSON can be beneficial for users who want to process the dictionary definitions programmatically or parse them into another system.

Explanation: The ‘–json’ argument is used to format the output as JSON. The ‘search_term’ argument represents the word for which the user wants to find a definition.

Example output:

{
   "word":"Yosemite",
   "definitions":[
      {
         "definition":"the park in California, US",
         "translation":"优山美地（加州,美国）"
      }
   ]
}

Use case 7: Search for dictionaries in a specific directory

Code:

sdcv --data-dir path/to/directory search_term

Motivation: Searching for dictionaries in a specific directory can be useful for users who want to keep their dictionaries organized or store them in a location of their choice.

Explanation: The ‘–data-dir’ argument is followed by the ‘path/to/directory’ argument, which represents the directory in which the user wants to search for dictionaries. The ‘search_term’ argument represents the word for which the user wants to find a definition.

Example output:

Yosemite (the park in California, US)            优山美地（加州,美国）

Conclusion:

The ‘sdcv’ command-line dictionary client provides various useful functionalities for looking up definitions from installed dictionaries. Users can start ‘sdcv’ interactively, list installed dictionaries, display definitions from specific dictionaries, perform fuzzy or exact searches, format the output as JSON, and search for dictionaries in specific directories. These features make ‘sdcv’ a versatile tool for accessing dictionary definitions directly from the command line.