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Random search engine (lemmy.ml)

submitted 2 years ago by thervingi@lemmy.ml to c/firefox@lemmy.ml

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Hello all, I have an unconventional idea. Is it possible for the default search engine in Firefox to be randomized at each search?

I was a happy DuckDuckGo user for many years, but the quality of results degraded significantly in 2022. Not sure what is goşng on, but I'm in the market for a new default search engine. I'm trying out Brave, Ecosia, SearX and a bunch of others. It would be really cool if my default search engine was randomly selected from this pool every time, so that I get to experience different ones before eventually settling for one of them.

Do you think this could be done? (for example as an extention)

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[–] ailiphilia@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 years ago

The user Zerush here on Lemmy suggested https://andisearch.com some time ago. I have been using it for some months as my primary engine and I get very good results. My second choice is Mojeek and sometimes searx.ebnar.xyz

[–] loki@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 years ago

if you can code, it could be as easy as having a python fastAPI script with list of search engines urls, which takes a query, picks a search engine at random and concatenate it with the query and then redirect there.

then you host it on heroku or replit, then change the search engine to one you just made.

[–] kromonos@fapsi.be 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Have you tried https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/use-random-search-engine/ ?

[–] thervingi@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

I'll take a look, thanks

[–] y78fpXvK8Zxz@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 2 years ago

how about using searx instead? you can choose which search engines it displays results from.

[–] zksmk@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

< Is it possible for the default search engine in Firefox to be randomized at each search

I've been wanting this exact thing for quite some time, and would love it if Firefox could do this natively.

There's an add-on, but you have to lead your searches with a custom word all the time.

[–] FriendBesto@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Switch your search engine to Google or Yahoo. Then using the add-on LibDirect, have it rotate and find you different search engines every time you search. That is what I do instead of using Youtube. You can also use your own, as well to add to the random rotation.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/libredirect/