define.rb

# Thoughts on a backend-agnostic search plugin
Scour.define Model do
  backend :ferret # or :sphinx / :solr

  index title, :sortable => true, :boost => 1.0
  index content, author_id, created_at, updated_at
  index author.name, :as => :author, :sortable => true
  index first_name, last_name, :as => [:name, :fullname]
  index tags.name, :as => :tags
  index minor { author.age < 18 }
  where { active? }
  boost votes.count
  age 3.days
end


Scour.define 'multi' do
  backend :ferret

  with Foo do
    index name
  end
  with Bar do
    index thing
  end
end

usage.rb

# AR style
Model.search(:conditions => {:title => 'foo', :created_at => 1.week.ago..Time.now})
# Freeform
Model.search('foo', :order => :title)

# specific index
Scour['multi'].search('…')
# or
Scour.search '…', :in => 'multi'