How does the search work? +
The search is built on embeddings. A small language model turns every passage of our content into a list of 384 numbers, a vector that describes what the text is about. Texts with a similar meaning end up close to each other, even when they use different words or even different languages. We compute these vectors once in advance and ship them with the website. How this works in detail, and why it needs no large language model, is explained in our article “Not every search needs an LLM”, which you can find through this search itself.
Who or what is OPCy? +
OPCy is our data octopus, pronounced “OP-see”. It makes the compendium's articles findable: a small language model running locally turns your question and our content into embeddings and picks out the passages that come closest in meaning to what you asked. It invents nothing, it finds: you get what our articles actually say, not a freshly written answer.
How is the order of the results decided? +
As you type, word search finds matching terms. Shortly afterwards, semantic search adds related passages. The ordering combines word matches, passages and typical questions about each article. Similarity scores for individual passages are not probabilities.
Where do the answers come from? +
The answers are passages, not written texts. No language model composes an answer that could be made up; you see what our articles actually say and can read on there.
What happens to my question? +
Your question is only compared with our content on our own server. It is neither stored nor logged, and it is not sent to any other service.
Can I subscribe to new articles? +
Yes, via RSS feed, with no sign-up and no email address. You'll find the "RSS feed" link at the bottom of the page. Add it to your feed reader and you'll see every new article as soon as it is published, without us needing your address or sending anything to your inbox. That keeps what you read in your own hands, and we don't learn who's following along.
How up to date are the articles? +
We review every article regularly and revise it when something changes, such as a law, a price or a best practice. So there is no publication date that ages over time, just knowledge that should be right when you read it.
May I use and share the articles? +
Yes, that is what they are for. Apply what helps you, share the link with your team and quote with attribution, including internally in your docs or in a discussion with colleagues. We'd rather the knowledge gets used than sit there unread. Just one thing, please: don't copy an article one to one and pass it off as your own content, which is something other than quoting and linking.
Why is all of this freely available? +
Our working lives have always been shaped by open source, and we stand by that attitude: knowledge should be shared freely. If it gets you further on your own, we are glad. If you want support putting it into practice, we are here.
Do I have to sign up or leave anything behind? +
No. No sign-up, no email address, no paywall. You don't have to leave anything behind to read an article in full, and we build no trail of your visits either. It's the same stance we take in our products: what isn't needed isn't collected in the first place. So you simply read, without it turning into an account, a mailing list or an ad profile.
What if I find a mistake or see things differently? +
Then tell us, that is explicitly welcome. We treat the compendium as a maintained document rather than a pile of old blog posts, so any pointer to a mistake or a different view is valuable. Every correction makes the article better for everyone who reads it after you. Just write to us via the contact form, ideally with the point you're stuck on, and we'll check it and put it right.
Can I suggest a topic? +
Sure. If something is on your mind that is still missing here, tell us about it. Many articles grew out of exactly such questions from practice, because a topic that's on your mind is often on others' minds too. We don't promise a publication date, but we take the suggestion seriously and pick it up when it fits the compendium. Just write to us via the contact form and let us know what it's about.
Does an article replace advice? +
An article puts a topic in context and shows ways that have proven themselves, but it doesn't know your specific case. Your company has its own conditions, its own system and its own history, and what's generally right can look different for you. So use the articles to understand a topic and ask the right questions. If you're then unsure whether something really fits your situation, let's talk briefly rather than acting on a hunch.
