Feature #17652

Consider using DuckDuckGo for search queries on our website

Added by sajolida 2020-04-23 16:33:43 . Updated 2020-05-13 12:41:12 .

Status:
Confirmed
Priority:
Normal
Assignee:
sajolida
Category:
Target version:
Start date:
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Feature Branch:
Type of work:
Research
Blueprint:

Starter:
Affected tool:
Deliverable for:

Description

It’s been discussed a bit on Bug #9900 but this was years ago and we haven’t improve our internal search in the meantime.

I want to:

  • Compare the quality of the results of both on common search queries.
  • Check for possible changes on the DuckDuckGo technology/policy (and maybe ask them a favor).
  • Lead the discussion on whether we are ok with sharing our users searches with DuckDuckGo.

Subtasks


History

#1 Updated by sajolida 2020-04-23 16:36:38

  • Description updated

#2 Updated by geb 2020-05-13 12:41:12

Hi,

> Compare the quality of the results of both on common search queries.

I regularly use duckduckgo or other search engines to search the tails website, with good results. I believe those good results are mostly related to the fact that compared to the website integrated search, duckduckgo & others, doesnt index, or give less weight to pages such as,

  • Translated pages
  • RecentChanges
  • News (release news & monthly reports), especially old ones
  • Technical documentation (contribute/design), blueprints, when I make simple “user” research queries.

Example of search strings: “upgrade”, “make”, “issue”, “problem”, “usb”, “mac”, “download”, “wifi”, “mail” [*], “metadata”.

[*] This one return claws mail security announcements :(

While duckduckgo & others are still not perfect regarding those examples. I found their results better (through maybe ikwiki search engine could be tweaked to acheive something similar).

One important point for me is also, the UX, I found duckduckgo’s one much more accessible and usuable for what I know of Tails userbase (or believe to be), and I am not sure ikwiki search engine could be easily improved regarding that.