devskale Web Search
web-search "your query"
That's the whole command. No flags, no pipes, no export PATH=. Works out of the box — public SearXNG, no credentials.
Keep it simple
The default is the right call ~90% of the time. Don't add flags you don't need.
| ✗ Don't | ✓ Do |
|---|---|
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"; web-search "q" --max 6 2>&1 | head -60 |
web-search "q" |
web-search "q" --max 10 --page 1 --region wt-wt |
web-search "q" |
web-search "q" --json | head |
web-search "q" |
- Output is already concise (10 results, markdown). No
head, no2>&1. web-search: command not found? Install once (below) or use the full path~/.local/bin/web-search "q". Don't prefix every call withexport PATH=.- Want fewer/more results?
--max 5/--max 20— but the default 10 is usually right. - Want images/news/video?
--categories images/--categories news.
Install
This skill ships in the skale-skills pi package — install the repo once:
pi install git:github.com/devskale/skale-skills
That loads the skill into pi. To also get a global web-search shell command, run the installer from this skill's own directory (next to SKILL.md):
./install.sh # → creates ~/.local/bin/web-search (uv auto-installed)
install.bat # Windows, same directory
Update
web-search --update # Manual update (git pull + uv sync)
web-search --selfcheck # Show version + last update date
Auto-updates in the background every 7 days. No search is blocked — the update runs in a detached process.
Usage
web-search "react hooks tutorial" # default: 10 text results
web-search "cats" --categories images # images
web-search "AI news" --categories news # news
web-search "query" --max 20 # more results
web-search "query" --time-range day # last 24h
Options (only if you need them)
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--max N |
Max results (default: 10) |
--categories CAT |
images, news, videos |
--time-range RANGE |
day, week, month, year (both backends) |
--json |
Raw JSON to stdout |
-v, --verbose |
Show backend on stderr |
--page N |
Results page (default: 1) |
--language LANG |
Search language (default: en). SearXNG only. |
--region CODE |
Region (us-en, de-de). Default: wt-wt. |
--engines LIST |
Comma-separated engines (SearXNG only) |
--api / --searxng |
Force a backend |
--update |
Update the skill now |
--selfcheck |
Show version and last update |
Advanced filters (require Duck API token via credgoo WEB_SEARCH_BEARER)
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--site DOMAIN |
Filter by domain |
--filetype EXT |
Filter by file type (pdf, txt, etc.) |
--inurl TEXT |
URL must contain text |
--exclude TERMS |
Comma-separated terms to exclude |
--exact |
Exact phrase match |
Duck-only filters (
--site,--filetype,--inurl,--exclude,--exact) are silently ignored on SearXNG with a warning. Use--apito force the Duck backend.
Configure backends (optional)
Public SearXNG works out of the box. For better reliability:
Private SearXNG (recommended):
credgoo searx # Returns: URL@username@password
Or set the SEARXNG_URL env var (bare URL, or URL@user@pass).
Duck API (enables --site, --filetype, --inurl, --exclude, --exact):
credgoo WEB_SEARCH_BEARER
No credgoo command? Install it once (the skill prefers a global install):
uv tool install "credgoo @ git+https://github.com/devskale/python-openutils.git#subdirectory=packages/credgoo"
Gotchas
--time-rangevalues are lowercase:day,week,month,year-v, --verboseoutput goes to stderr — safe to pipe stdout- Duck-only filters are ignored on SearXNG (warning printed). Use
--apito force Duck. - Exit codes:
0= success,1= search error
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
web-search: command not found |
Run ./install.sh once, or call ~/.local/bin/web-search "q". Don't prefix calls with export PATH=. |
uv: command not found |
Run install.sh again — it auto-installs uv |
| Dependency errors | web-search --update |
| All SearXNG instances fail | Configure a private instance via credgoo searx |
References
- references/INDEX.md — worked examples, region/language codes, backend comparison, and authentication options. Read when you need region tuning, backend details, or advanced Duck-API filters (
--site/--filetype/--inurl).