Talk:WikiObject

open-source product-database

My dream
I would like to be able to search for products (hardware, food,...) in a database for the cheapest price for given specifications for example:

• a notebook with exchangable Akku with at least 2 USB3-Ports and a webcam (Geizhals)
• a mobile rechargable music-box with Bluetooth and at least 5W Musik-power (Geizhals)
• Smartphone with 5G, GPS, ≥4GB RAM, ≥64GB Space, ≥5MP Front-camera, ≥12MP-back-camera, USB-C, ≥WiFi-5 (Geizhals)
• second-hand-Bike with 28 inch-wheels (Craigslist)
• find computer-mouse below 10€ within 10km which is currently available (German: Geizhals-Austria)
• check which brands support animal welfare (German: Austrian Association against Animal Factories)
• check how much sugar a specific muesly has (Open Food Facts)

The expected problems

• small-data-base ⇒ no contributors ⇒ database doesn't grow ⇒ less contributors ⇒ database get's outdated ⇒ no maintainer ⇒ dead project
  • Geizhals for example focuses on categorizing electroinc products the German-speaking area and is an Austrian-company with 76 employees listed on there webside, created in 1996. Therefore it will be impossible to be better then Geizhals at least on hardware.
• Copyright-issues
  • Every entry in https://world.openfoodfacts.org is under Database Content License
• Manipulation
  • Companies have a high interesst in manipulation the data, like calulating the footprint to their advantage

Similar already working projects

• Austria focused:
  • en:Geizhals price-comparison-website with very good filtering: e.g. notebook, LED, SSD
  • https://preismonitor.at/ was a website comparing prices (per kg, per liter), and price-histories of 133 product-groups (butter,milk,...) of the 3 largest supermarkeds in Austira, developed by one person within 2 weeks
  • https://preisrunter.at/ is a website developed by one person, which compares prices of specific products e.g. Coca-cola, Milk, beer
  • https://heisse-preise.io is a website developed by one person showing prices of 14 Austrian Supermarkets based on search e.g. milk, butter, beer
  • https://www.tarife.at/ comparing mobile-tarif, internet where you can see the prices for a minimum phone-time, sms, Data-volume, speed,...
  • https://durchblicker.at/ for comparing insurance, electricity
  • https://www.idealo.at/ compare prices for idencital products
  • https://www.preisvergleich.at similar to Geizhals
  • https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-und-verkaufen second hand platform similar to ebay
  • https://www.druckerchannel.de/drucker-finder/?t%5Bte%5D%5B%5D=SL&pb=1550&c%5B7a%5D%5B%5D=G-PCL6&c%5B6b%5D=B-0.02&so=_preis for printers compare prices including price for printing (paper, toner, catridge,...)
• Worldwide
  • en:Open Food Facts lists food-values e.g. hummus, Coca-Cola, nutella
  • Google-Shopping: Search Engine for products https://www.google.com/webhp?tbm=shop but does not work very well, filtering is hardly available

How to achive

• I would like to archive it only with volunteers, however I think we need at least one big player/company using this database (e.g. google Shopping), otherwise it will be dead before we start

 — Johannes Kalliauer - Talk | Contributions 21:18, 22 May 2025 (UTC)