Improving GitHub Code Search (github.blog)

Article summary

GitHub is rolling out a technology preview for improved code search, allowing users to search for exact strings, use regular expressions, and filter results. The new search index covers over five million public repositories and allows searching of private repositories. The feature is currently available as a separate interface, but will be integrated into the main GitHub experience once feedback has been gathered. The goal is to improve the search functionality and make it more efficient for users.

Main themes

• GitHub code search
• improved search functionality
• Rust programming language
• Sourcegraph and third-party solutions
• search performance and efficiency
• user experience and feedback

What commenters say

• The current GitHub search functionality is inadequate and often returns irrelevant results, making it difficult for users to find what they need.
• The new search feature is a significant improvement, but some users are concerned that it may not be as effective as existing third-party solutions like Sourcegraph.
• Some users appreciate the mention of the technology used to build the new search feature, such as Rust, as it gives them an idea of the performance they can expect.
• Others find the mention of the programming language used to be unnecessary and even annoying, and would rather focus on the features and functionality of the search tool.
• The improved search functionality is seen as a long-overdue update, and some users are surprised that it took Microsoft so long to address the issue.
• There are concerns that the new search feature may make existing third-party solutions obsolete, which could have negative consequences for the developers and users who rely on them.
• Some users have had negative experiences with companies like Sourcegraph, which may impact their perception of the new search feature and its potential impact on the industry.