Justin_Vega proposes allowing users to change the default search engine from Google to Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo in preferences, with administrators having the option to disallow user changes or change the default search engine.
However, nexo disagrees, considering Google the premier search engine and this proposal unnecessary. Justin_Vega counters that some users prefer other search engines due to Google’s questionable choices regarding privacy.
featheredtoast suggests that this could be implemented as a theme component, while Falco points to a pre-existing DuckDuckGo theme component and encourages users to create similar components for other search engines. Justin_Vega decides to explore this option.
When you’re looking for a thread and no results are found, you’ll be offered to search using Google. I think that you should be able to change the search engine (in preferences) from Google to one of the other three “major” search engines.
Maybe administrators could have the option to disallow users from changing the search engine? Maybe administrators could change the default search engine to Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo (or back to Google if they ever feel like it)?
Feel free to ask for more information. Questions and constructive criticism are welcome.
I disagree with this proposal as its unnecessary noise and can also devalue the quality of the site. Google is the premier search engine and it’s not even close. Be honest with yourselves, it’s a sweeping majority of people that use Google over other crappier engines. And if they don’t - they should get with the flow.
This sounds like it should be doable in a theme component for those looking for flexibility. I’m not aware of plans for the core team to build alternate search engines, but it could be an interesting task for someone looking to get some Discourse dev experience
That DuckDuckGo theme component was contributed by our great community member @notriddle, who I assume likes DuckDuckGo.
People who likes other search engines are welcome to create similar theme components to address their needs and share it on Customization > Theme component. Using the original one as a starting point should make it easier than the first one.
