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A search engine that favors text-heavy sites and punishes modern web design (search.marginalia.nu)

3441 points by Funes- · 1833 days ago · 717 comments on HN

Article summary

Marginalia Search is a search engine that prioritizes non-commercial content and favors text-heavy sites over those with modern web design features. It uses custom index and crawler software, and its policy is to filter out tracking and not share data with third parties. The search engine is licensed under AGPL and has a simple technology with no AI. It aims to help users find lost old websites and provide tools for both search and discovery.

Main themes

  • search engine design
  • web design features
  • text-heavy sites
  • non-commercial content
  • custom software
  • ranking algorithms
  • integrity and independence
  • user interface and experience
  • crawling and indexing
  • content quality and relevance

What commenters say

  • The search engine's UI is too simple and uncompact, but others find it intuitive and fast.
  • Some users appreciate the focus on text-heavy sites and the rejection of modern web design features, while others think it's not for everyone.
  • The search engine's ranking algorithm is based on multiple factors, including incoming links and similarity to the query, but the exact details are not fully disclosed.
  • The project's creator values integrity over financial gain and is not trying to please everyone, which may limit its appeal but also ensures its independence.
  • The search engine's ability to weed out sites with too many modern web design features is seen as a strength by some, but others think it may be too restrictive.
  • The use of custom crawler and index software is seen as a positive aspect, but the crawling speed and index size are not yet optimal.
  • Some users think that the search engine's focus on text-heavy sites may not be the best approach, and that other factors like content quality and relevance should be considered.
  • The project's creator is open to feedback and willing to improve the search engine, but also emphasizes the importance of earning users' trust and support over time.