searxng/docs/dev/contribution_guide.rst

=================
How to contribute
=================

Prime directives: Privacy, Hackability
======================================

Searx has two prime directives, **privacy-by-design and hackability** .  The
hackability comes in three levels:

- support of search engines
- plugins to alter search behaviour
- hacking searx itself

Note the lack of "world domination" among the directives.  Searx has no
intention of wide mass-adoption, rounded corners, etc.  The prime directive
"privacy" deserves a separate chapter, as it's quite uncommon unfortunately.

Privacy-by-design
-----------------

Searx was born out of the need for a **privacy-respecting** search tool which
can be extended easily to maximize both, its search and its privacy protecting
capabilities.

A few widely used features work differently or turned off by default or not
implemented at all **as a consequence of privacy-by-design**.

If a feature reduces the privacy preserving aspects of searx, it should be
switched off by default or should not implemented at all.  There are plenty of
search engines already providing such features.  If a feature reduces the
protection of searx, users must be informed about the effect of choosing to
enable it.  Features that protect privacy but differ from the expectations of
the user should also be explained.

Also, if you think that something works weird with searx, it's might be because
of the tool you use is designed in a way to interfere with the privacy respect.
Submitting a bugreport to the vendor of the tool that misbehaves might be a good
feedback to reconsider the disrespect to its customers (e.g. ``GET`` vs ``POST``
requests in various browsers).

Remember the other prime directive of searx is to be hackable, so if the above
privacy concerns do not fancy you, simply fork it.

  *Happy hacking.*

Code
====

.. _PEP8: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/


In order to submit a patch, please follow the steps below:

- Follow coding conventions.

  - PEP8_ standards apply, except the convention of line length
  - Maximum line length is 120 characters

- Check if your code breaks existing tests.  If so, update the tests or fix your
  code.

- If your code can be unit-tested, add unit tests.

- Add yourself to the :origin:`AUTHORS.rst` file.

- Create a pull request.

For more help on getting started with searx development, see :ref:`devquickstart`.


Translation
===========

Translation currently takes place on :ref:`transifex <translation>`.

.. caution::

   Please, do not update translation files in the repo.


Documentation
=============

.. admonition::  ToDo

   docs are no longer in gh-branch

   Update this chapter and document the /docs workflow!!