FAQ

[mrpaulblack]

When is the next version of SearXNG going to be released?

SearXNG follows a rolling release model.
Meaning: The latest commit on the master branch in the git repository is considered as the latest stable version of SearXNG. Each commit has a version string similar to this: 2022.07.02-4ef62637. The first part is the commit date, the second part is the actual commit short SHA on the master branch. We decided to follow a rolling release model because of the fast-moving nature of engine fixes and work we need to do if, for example, an engine changes its API.

Is SearXNG stable, since its rolling release?

Since SearXNG is rolling release, each commit is a new version of SearXNG. We only commit through PRs into our main master branch, which are reviewed before merging them, and there for It's pretty stable. Sometimes there are regressions or bugs that are introduced through PRs, and just by the nature of having way more releases in a rolling release modal it can happen more than with tagged releases. Normally we catch those issues within a day and revert the changes or fix them right away.

What are the differences between SearXNG and SearX?

We have a list of core differences here: https://github.com/searxng/searxng#differences-to-searx .

Is SearXNG worse than SearX in keeping the users privacy intact?

SearXNG development started in mid-2021. We started as a fork of SearX, and part of the team behind SearXNG are also maintainers of the original SearX project. SearXNG reached a point where we see it as independent from SearX and therefore don't want to compare it in this regard. We put the users' privacy first with each PR.

Is SearXNG the successor of SearX?

SearXNG is a fork of SearX that started with some of the original SearX maintainers in mid-2021. We reached a point where we consider ourselves as an independent project from SearX. We are not a successor of SearX. You are free to choose whatever project you prefer.

Should I run my own instance or use a public one?

An instance needs some maintenance and basic knowledge to run a secure HTTP server, we have a section in our documentation to help you decide: https://docs.searxng.org/own-instance.html. If you want to use a public instance, you can check one out in the list of public instances here: https://searx.space.

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Note
For any further questions please visit our Q&A discussion at https://github.com/searxng/searxng/discussions/categories/q-a.