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I'm Starting A Search Engine For The Fediverse (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago by lautan@lemmy.ca to c/fediverse@lemmy.world

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Hey everyone,

This isn't an announcement, just wanted peoples thoughts on this.

I think everyone knows searching the fediverse can be better. Googling doesn't work too well, etc. So I wanted to do my part and help out.

Indexing all posts, etc is quite a lot to handle, so I wanted to start small and just focus on video search. I've started indexing videos from Peertube and other video websites. (Even YouTube but this could be removed to just focus on independent sites)

I know Peertube has their own search engine for videos. I will be reaching out to them. Compared to my site I'm planning it'll have other video sources and be easier to use.

So that leads to feedback from you guys.

What do you think about indexing videos posted on the fediverse and other independent platforms?
Are there similar services?
Am I just wasting my time?

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[-] Aopen@discuss.tchncs.de 18 points 1 year ago

Why wouldnt people want do have search engine? Without it Fediverse stands no chance against non-free internet. Everything posted here would be much more valuable if it was searchable. Now comment posted once is viewed only until post gets less popular. Any other site of this kind displays answers decades old. Privacy isnt issue as everything posted here is available to everyone on internet.

[-] lautan@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago

I mean they are posting on the public internet, they should know that it can be read by anyone. I like the idea of users opting out.

[-] KISSmyOS@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

If you give users the choice to opt out, all the privacy-focussing communities won't be searchable.
What if someone who opts out posts a comment and someone who opts in answers?
The Fediverse is public, a search engine doesn't show anything that isn't already open for anyone to see.