Step 1: Create the cache, 00 ~ FF hex values

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache
for i in {0..255}; do sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache/$(printf "%02x" $i); done
Copy

sudo chown -R searxng:searxng /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache
sudo chmod -R 755 /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache
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Step 2: Install the cache, edit the files.

webapp.py

@app.route('/search', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
def search():
    """Search query in q and return results.
    Supported outputs: html, json, csv, rss.
    """
    # pylint: disable=too-many-locals, too-many-return-statements, too-many-branches
    # pylint: disable=too-many-statements

    # output_format
    output_format = request.form.get('format', 'html')
    if output_format not in OUTPUT_FORMATS:
        output_format = 'html'

    if output_format not in settings['search']['formats']:
        flask.abort(403)

    # check if there is query (not None and not an empty string)
    if not request.form.get('q'):
        if output_format == 'html':
            return render(
                # fmt: off
                'index.html',
                selected_categories=get_selected_categories(request.preferences, request.form),
                # fmt: on
            )
        return index_error(output_format, 'No query'), 400

    # search
    search_query = None
    raw_text_query = None
    result_container = None

    try:
        search_query, raw_text_query, _, _, selected_locale = get_search_query_from_webapp(
            request.preferences, request.form
        )
        search = SearchWithPlugins(search_query, request.user_plugins, request)  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
        result_container = search.search()

# 
→

        fname = request.form['q'] + str(search_query.pageno) + str(search_query.categories[0])

        # Generate a hash of the search term
        hash_object = hashlib.md5(fname.encode())
        hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()
        subdirectory = hex_dig[:2]  # Use the first 2 characters of the hash as the subdirectory name
        cache_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join("cache", subdirectory))

        if not os.path.exists(cache_dir):
            os.makedirs(cache_dir)
        
        file_path = os.path.join(cache_dir, hex_dig)  # Use the hash as the filename

        if not os.path.exists(file_path):
            responsex = webutils.get_json_response(search_query, result_container)
            if len(responsex.strip()) > 1000:  # Checking length greater than 2 to ensure it's not just '{}'
                with open(file_path, "w") as text_file:
                    text_file.write(responsex)  # json.dump(responsex, text_file)

#
→

    except SearxParameterException as e:
        logger.exception('search error: SearxParameterException')
        return index_error(output_format, e.message), 400
    except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
        logger.exception(e, exc_info=True)
        return index_error(output_format, gettext('search error')), 500

    # 1. check if the result is a redirect for an external bang
    if result_container.redirect_url:
        return redirect(result_container.redirect_url)

    # 2. add Server-Timing header for measuring performance characteristics of
    # web applications
    request.timings = result_container.get_timings()  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot

    # 3. formats without a template

    if output_format == 'json':

        response = webutils.get_json_response(search_query, result_container)
        return Response(response, mimetype='application/json')

    if output_format == 'csv':

        csv = webutils.CSVWriter(StringIO())
        webutils.write_csv_response(csv, result_container)
        csv.stream.seek(0)

        response = Response(csv.stream.read(), mimetype='application/csv')
        cont_disp = 'attachment;Filename=searx_-_{0}.csv'.format(search_query.query)
        response.headers.add('Content-Disposition', cont_disp)
        return response

    # 4. formats rendered by a template / RSS & HTML

    current_template = None
    previous_result = None

    results = result_container.get_ordered_results()

    if search_query.redirect_to_first_result and results:
        return redirect(results[0]['url'], 302)

    for result in results:
        if output_format == 'html':
            if 'content' in result and result['content']:
                result['content'] = highlight_content(escape(result['content'][:1024]), search_query.query)
            if 'title' in result and result['title']:
                result['title'] = highlight_content(escape(result['title'] or ''), search_query.query)

        if 'url' in result:
            result['pretty_url'] = webutils.prettify_url(result['url'])
        if result.get('publishedDate'):  # do not try to get a date from an empty string or a None type
            try:  # test if publishedDate >= 1900 (datetime module bug)
                result['pubdate'] = result['publishedDate'].strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S%z')
            except ValueError:
                result['publishedDate'] = None
            else:
                result['publishedDate'] = webutils.searxng_l10n_timespan(result['publishedDate'])

        # set result['open_group'] = True when the template changes from the previous result
        # set result['close_group'] = True when the template changes on the next result
        if current_template != result.get('template'):
            result['open_group'] = True
            if previous_result:
                previous_result['close_group'] = True  # pylint: disable=unsupported-assignment-operation
        current_template = result.get('template')
        previous_result = result

    if previous_result:
        previous_result['close_group'] = True

    # 4.a RSS

    if output_format == 'rss':
        response_rss = render(
            'opensearch_response_rss.xml',
            results=results,
            answers=result_container.answers,
            corrections=result_container.corrections,
            suggestions=result_container.suggestions,
            q=request.form['q'],
            number_of_results=result_container.number_of_results,
        )
        return Response(response_rss, mimetype='text/xml')

    # 4.b HTML

    # suggestions: use RawTextQuery to get the suggestion URLs with the same bang
    suggestion_urls = list(
        map(
            lambda suggestion: {'url': raw_text_query.changeQuery(suggestion).getFullQuery(), 'title': suggestion},
            result_container.suggestions,
        )
    )

    correction_urls = list(
        map(
            lambda correction: {'url': raw_text_query.changeQuery(correction).getFullQuery(), 'title': correction},
            result_container.corrections,
        )
    )

    # search_query.lang contains the user choice (all, auto, en, ...)
    # when the user choice is "auto", search.search_query.lang contains the detected language
    # otherwise it is equals to search_query.lang
    return render(
        # fmt: off
        'results.html',
        results = results,
        q=request.form['q'],
        selected_categories = search_query.categories,
        pageno = search_query.pageno,
        time_range = search_query.time_range or '',
        number_of_results = format_decimal(result_container.number_of_results),
        suggestions = suggestion_urls,
        answers = result_container.answers,
        corrections = correction_urls,
        infoboxes = result_container.infoboxes,
        engine_data = result_container.engine_data,
        paging = result_container.paging,
        unresponsive_engines = webutils.get_translated_errors(
            result_container.unresponsive_engines
        ),
        current_locale = request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
        current_language = selected_locale,
        search_language = match_locale(
            search.search_query.lang,
            settings['search']['languages'],
            fallback=request.preferences.get_value("language")
        ),
        timeout_limit = request.form.get('timeout_limit', None)
        # fmt: on
    )
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searx/search/__init__.py

    def search_multiple_requests2(self, requests, hashed_filename):
        search_id = str(uuid4())
        mock_result_container = ResultContainer()
        cache_dir = 'cache'
        fname = self.search_query.query + str(self.search_query.pageno) + str(self.search_query.categories[0])
        hash_object = hashlib.md5(fname.encode())
        hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()
        subdirectory = hex_dig[:2]
        query_dir = os.path.join(cache_dir, subdirectory)
        mock_data_filename = os.path.join(query_dir, hashed_filename)

        with open(mock_data_filename, encoding='utf-8') as mock_data_file:
            mock_data = json.load(mock_data_file)
            mock_results = mock_data['results']
            mock_infoboxes = mock_data.get('infoboxes', [])
            mock_suggestions = mock_data.get('suggestions', [])
            mock_answers = mock_data.get('answers', [])
            mock_number_of_results = mock_data.get('number_of_results', 0)

            # Process results for each engine
            for engine_name, _, _ in requests:
                self.mock_search_function(engine_name, mock_results, mock_result_container)

        mock_result_container.infoboxes.extend(mock_infoboxes)
        mock_result_container.suggestions = mock_suggestions
        mock_result_container.answers = {answer: {'answer': answer} for answer in mock_answers}
        mock_result_container.number_of_results = mock_number_of_results
        self.result_container = mock_result_container

    def mock_search_function(self, engine_name, mock_results, result_container):
        engine_results = []
        for result in mock_results:
            if engine_name in result.get('engines', []):
                result_copy = result.copy()
                result_copy['engine'] = engine_name
                if 'publishedDate' in result_copy and isinstance(result_copy['publishedDate'], str):
                    result_copy['publishedDate'] = datetime.fromisoformat(result_copy['publishedDate'])
                engine_results.append(result_copy)
        result_container.extend(engine_name, engine_results)

    def search_standard(self):
        requests, self.actual_timeout = self._get_requests()

        cache_dir = 'cache'
        fname = self.search_query.query + str(self.search_query.pageno) + str(self.search_query.categories[0])
        hash_object = hashlib.md5(fname.encode())
        hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()
        subdirectory = hex_dig[:2]
        hashed_filename = hex_dig  # Use the full hash as the filename
        query_dir = os.path.join(cache_dir, subdirectory)
        mock_data_filename = os.path.join(query_dir, hashed_filename)
    
        if requests:
            if os.path.isfile(mock_data_filename):
                self.search_multiple_requests2(requests, hashed_filename)
            else:
                self.search_multiple_requests(requests)

        return True

    # do search-request
    def search(self) -> ResultContainer:
        self.start_time = default_timer()
        if not self.search_external_bang():
            if not self.search_answerers():
                self.search_standard()

        return self.result_container
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searx/results.py

class ResultContainer:
    """docstring for ResultContainer"""

    __slots__ = (
        '_merged_results',
        'infoboxes',
        'suggestions',
        'answers',
        'corrections',
        '_number_of_results',
        '_closed',
        'paging',
        'unresponsive_engines',
        'timings',
        'redirect_url',
        'engine_data',
        'on_result',
        '_lock',
    )

class ResultContainer:

    def extend(self, engine_name, results):
        if engine_name not in self.results:
            self.results[engine_name] = []
        self.results[engine_name].extend(results)


    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self._merged_results = []
        self.infoboxes = []
        self.suggestions = set()
        self.answers = {}
        self.corrections = set()
        self._number_of_results = []
        self.engine_data = defaultdict(dict)
        self._closed = False
        self.paging = False
        self.unresponsive_engines: Set[UnresponsiveEngine] = set()
        self.timings: List[Timing] = []
        self.redirect_url = None
        self.on_result = lambda _: True
        self._lock = RLock()

    def extend(self, engine_name, results):  # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
        if self._closed:
            return

        standard_result_count = 0
        error_msgs = set()
        for result in list(results):
            result['engine'] = engine_name
            if 'suggestion' in result and self.on_result(result):
                self.suggestions.add(result['suggestion'])
            elif 'answer' in result and self.on_result(result):
                self.answers[result['answer']] = result
            elif 'correction' in result and self.on_result(result):
                self.corrections.add(result['correction'])
            elif 'infobox' in result and self.on_result(result):
                self._merge_infobox(result)
            elif 'number_of_results' in result and self.on_result(result):
                self._number_of_results.append(result['number_of_results'])
            elif 'engine_data' in result and self.on_result(result):
                self.engine_data[engine_name][result['key']] = result['engine_data']
            elif 'url' in result:
                # standard result (url, title, content)
                if not self._is_valid_url_result(result, error_msgs):
                    continue
                # normalize the result
                self._normalize_url_result(result)
                # call on_result call searx.search.SearchWithPlugins._on_result
                # which calls the plugins
                if not self.on_result(result):
                    continue
                self.__merge_url_result(result, standard_result_count + 1)
                standard_result_count += 1
            elif self.on_result(result):
                self.__merge_result_no_url(result, standard_result_count + 1)
                standard_result_count += 1

        if len(error_msgs) > 0:
            for msg in error_msgs:
                count_error(engine_name, 'some results are invalids: ' + msg, secondary=True)

        if engine_name in engines:
            histogram_observe(standard_result_count, 'engine', engine_name, 'result', 'count')

        if not self.paging and engine_name in engines and engines[engine_name].paging:
            self.paging = True

    def _merge_infobox(self, infobox):
        add_infobox = True
        infobox_id = infobox.get('id', None)
        infobox['engines'] = set([infobox['engine']])
        if infobox_id is not None:
            parsed_url_infobox_id = urlparse(infobox_id)
            with self._lock:
                for existingIndex in self.infoboxes:
                    if compare_urls(urlparse(existingIndex.get('id', '')), parsed_url_infobox_id):
                        merge_two_infoboxes(existingIndex, infobox)
                        add_infobox = False

        if add_infobox:
            self.infoboxes.append(infobox)

    def _is_valid_url_result(self, result, error_msgs):
        if 'url' in result:
            if not isinstance(result['url'], str):
                logger.debug('result: invalid URL: %s', str(result))
                error_msgs.add('invalid URL')
                return False

        if 'title' in result and not isinstance(result['title'], str):
            logger.debug('result: invalid title: %s', str(result))
            error_msgs.add('invalid title')
            return False

        if 'content' in result:
            if not isinstance(result['content'], str):
                logger.debug('result: invalid content: %s', str(result))
                error_msgs.add('invalid content')
                return False

        return True

    def _normalize_url_result(self, result):
        """Return True if the result is valid"""
        result['parsed_url'] = urlparse(result['url'])

        # if the result has no scheme, use http as default
        if not result['parsed_url'].scheme:
            result['parsed_url'] = result['parsed_url']._replace(scheme="http")
            result['url'] = result['parsed_url'].geturl()

        # avoid duplicate content between the content and title fields
        if result.get('content') == result.get('title'):
            del result['content']

        # make sure there is a template
        if 'template' not in result:
            result['template'] = 'default.html'

        # strip multiple spaces and carriage returns from content
        if result.get('content'):
            result['content'] = WHITESPACE_REGEX.sub(' ', result['content'])

    def __merge_url_result(self, result, position):
        result['engines'] = set([result['engine']])
        with self._lock:
            duplicated = self.__find_duplicated_http_result(result)
            if duplicated:
                self.__merge_duplicated_http_result(duplicated, result, position)
                return

            # if there is no duplicate found, append result
            result['positions'] = [position]
            self._merged_results.append(result)

    def __find_duplicated_http_result(self, result):
        result_template = result.get('template')
        for merged_result in self._merged_results:
            if 'parsed_url' not in merged_result:
                continue
            if compare_urls(result['parsed_url'], merged_result['parsed_url']) and result_template == merged_result.get(
                'template'
            ):
                if result_template != 'images.html':
                    # not an image, same template, same url : it's a duplicate
                    return merged_result

                # it's an image
                # it's a duplicate if the parsed_url, template and img_src are different
                if result.get('img_src', ) == merged_result.get('img_src', ):
                    return merged_result
        return None

    def __merge_duplicated_http_result(self, duplicated, result, position):
        # using content with more text
        if result_content_len(result.get('content', )) > result_content_len(duplicated.get('content', )):
            duplicated['content'] = result['content']

        # merge all result's parameters not found in duplicate
        for key in result.keys():
            if not duplicated.get(key):
                duplicated[key] = result.get(key)

        # add the new position
        duplicated['positions'].append(position)

        # add engine to list of result-engines
        duplicated['engines'].add(result['engine'])

        # using https if possible
        if duplicated['parsed_url'].scheme != 'https' and result['parsed_url'].scheme == 'https':
            duplicated['url'] = result['parsed_url'].geturl()
            duplicated['parsed_url'] = result['parsed_url']

    def __merge_result_no_url(self, result, position):
        result['engines'] = set([result['engine']])
        result['positions'] = [position]
        with self._lock:
            self._merged_results.append(result)

    def close(self):
        self._closed = True

        for result in self._merged_results:
            result['score'] = result_score(result, result.get('priority'))
            # removing html content and whitespace duplications
            if result.get('content'):
                result['content'] = utils.html_to_text(result['content']).strip()
            if result.get('title'):
                result['title'] = ' '.join(utils.html_to_text(result['title']).strip().split())

            for result_engine in result['engines']:
                counter_add(result['score'], 'engine', result_engine, 'score')

        results = sorted(self._merged_results, key=itemgetter('score'), reverse=True)

        # pass 2 : group results by category and template
        gresults = []
        categoryPositions = {}

        for res in results:
            # do we need to handle more than one category per engine?
            engine = engines[res['engine']]
            res['category'] = engine.categories[0] if len(engine.categories) > 0 else ''

            # do we need to handle more than one category per engine?
            category = (
                res['category']
                + ':'
                + res.get('template', '')
                + ':'
                + ('img_src' if 'img_src' in res or 'thumbnail' in res else '')
            )

            current = None if category not in categoryPositions else categoryPositions[category]

            # group with previous results using the same category
            # if the group can accept more result and is not too far
            # from the current position
            if current is not None and (current['count'] > 0) and (len(gresults) - current['index'] < 20):
                # group with the previous results using
                # the same category with this one
                index = current['index']
                gresults.insert(index, res)

                # update every index after the current one
                # (including the current one)
                for k in categoryPositions:  # pylint: disable=consider-using-dict-items
                    v = categoryPositions[k]['index']
                    if v >= index:
                        categoryPositions[k]['index'] = v + 1

                # update this category
                current['count'] -= 1

            else:
                # same category
                gresults.append(res)

                # update categoryIndex
                categoryPositions[category] = {'index': len(gresults), 'count': 8}

        # update _merged_results
        self._merged_results = gresults

    def get_ordered_results(self):
        if not self._closed:
            self.close()
        return self._merged_results

    def results_length(self):
        return len(self._merged_results)

    @property
    def number_of_results(self) -> int:
        """Returns the average of results number, returns zero if the average
        result number is smaller than the actual result count."""

        with self._lock:
            if not self._closed:
                logger.error("call to ResultContainer.number_of_results before ResultContainer.close")
                return 0

            resultnum_sum = sum(self._number_of_results)
            if not resultnum_sum or not self._number_of_results:
                return 0

            average = int(resultnum_sum / len(self._number_of_results))
            if average < self.results_length():
                average = 0
            return average

    @number_of_results.setter
    def number_of_results(self, value):
        with self._lock:
            self._number_of_results.append(value)

    def add_unresponsive_engine(self, engine_name: str, error_type: str, suspended: bool = False):
        with self._lock:
            if self._closed:
                logger.error("call to ResultContainer.add_unresponsive_engine after ResultContainer.close")
                return
            if engines[engine_name].display_error_messages:
                self.unresponsive_engines.add(UnresponsiveEngine(engine_name, error_type, suspended))

    def add_timing(self, engine_name: str, engine_time: float, page_load_time: float):
        with self._lock:
            if self._closed:
                logger.error("call to ResultContainer.add_timing after ResultContainer.close")
                return
            self.timings.append(Timing(engine_name, total=engine_time, load=page_load_time))

    def get_timings(self):
        with self._lock:
            if not self._closed:
                logger.error("call to ResultContainer.get_timings before ResultContainer.close")
                return []
            return self.timings
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Page ends here.

Appendix 1: old Version 2

/searx/webapp.py

import hashlib
import os

        fname = request.form['q'] + str(search_query.pageno) + str(search_query.categories[0])

        # Generate a hash of the search term
        hash_object = hashlib.md5(fname.encode())
        hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()
        subdirectory = hex_dig[:2]  # Use the first 2 characters of the hash as the subdirectory name
        cache_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join("cache", subdirectory))

        if not os.path.exists(cache_dir):
            os.makedirs(cache_dir)
        
        file_path = os.path.join(cache_dir, hex_dig)  # Use the hash as the filename

        if not os.path.exists(file_path):
            responsex = webutils.get_json_response(search_query, result_container)
            if len(responsex.strip()) > 1000:  # Checking length greater than 2 to ensure it's not just '{}'
                with open(file_path, "w") as text_file:
                    text_file.write(responsex)  # json.dump(responsex, text_file)
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/searx/search/__init__.py

import hashlib
import os

    def search_standard(self):
        requests, self.actual_timeout = self._get_requests()

        cache_dir = 'cache'
        fname = self.search_query.query.lower() + str(self.search_query.pageno) + str(self.search_query.categories[0])
        hash_object = hashlib.md5(fname.encode())
        hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()
        subdirectory = hex_dig[:2]
        hashed_filename = hex_dig  # Use the full hash as the filename
        query_dir = os.path.join(cache_dir, subdirectory)
        mock_data_filename = os.path.join(query_dir, hashed_filename)
    
        if requests:
            if os.path.isfile(mock_data_filename):
                self.search_multiple_requests2(requests, hashed_filename)
            else:
                self.search_multiple_requests(requests)

        return True
Copy

/searx/search/__init__.py

    def search_multiple_requests2(self, requests, hashed_filename):
        search_id = str(uuid4())
        mock_result_container = ResultContainer()
        cache_dir = 'cache'
        fname = self.search_query.query.lower() + str(self.search_query.pageno) + str(self.search_query.categories[0])
        hash_object = hashlib.md5(fname.encode())
        hex_dig = hash_object.hexdigest()
        subdirectory = hex_dig[:2]
        query_dir = os.path.join(cache_dir, subdirectory)
        mock_data_filename = os.path.join(query_dir, hashed_filename)

        with open(mock_data_filename, encoding='utf-8') as mock_data_file:
            mock_data = json.load(mock_data_file)
            mock_results = mock_data['results']
            threads = []
            for engine_name, _, _ in requests:
                th = threading.Thread(
                    target=self.mock_search_function,
                    args=(engine_name, mock_results, mock_result_container),
                    name=search_id,
                )
                th._timeout = False
                th._engine_name = engine_name
                th.start()
                threads.append(th)
        
            remaining_time = None
            for th in threads:
                if th.name == search_id:
                    if remaining_time is None:
                        remaining_time = self.actual_timeout - (default_timer() - self.start_time)
                    th.join(remaining_time)
                    if th.is_alive():
                        th._timeout = True
                        self.result_container.add_unresponsive_engine(th._engine_name, 'timeout')
                        PROCESSORS[th._engine_name].logger.error('engine timeout')
        
            for th in threads:
                th.join()
    
        self.result_container = mock_result_container

    def mock_search_function(self, engine_name, mock_results, result_container):
        time.sleep(0.1)
        for result in mock_results:
            if 'publishedDate' in result:
                if isinstance(result['publishedDate'], str):
                    result['publishedDate'] = datetime.fromisoformat(result['publishedDate'])
        result_container.extend(engine_name, mock_results)
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Appendix 2: version 1

SearXNG installs itself on /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src, with the main source code in searxng-src directory.

Interesting files are...

1. webapp.py in /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/webapp.py : def search()
2. __init__.py in /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/search/__init__.py : class Search

A cache implentation here...

• making a directory in the searx folder named cache
• make a sub-folder for every possible character in the cache directory, for instance a to z and 0 to 9

• the cache files are named by and are indentical to the search term
• check if the filename exists when a search is performed
• if there is a match read in the local file instead and defer the search
• send the keywords to cache maintainers so they can update the cache. They can then crawl the search engines and build a more comprehensive cache over time.
• the user updates their cache, by downloading and appending a distributed database.

Benefits: Why do this?

Imagine a man in the middle that knows your search term before you and performs the search prior, and then returns the result instantly when you pressed enter. The result is the same, except it would be very much faster. That is what a cache does, it speeds up the process. It also allows for a more comprehensive search, if I could perform searches across all the search engines, compile, optimize and store that data on disk all the while awaiting the user to search the keyword, when the term was searched again, the result would be not only fast but comprehensive.

Moreover, it could turn searXNG into a full search engine built from caching results, secondly offline searching becomes possible if the cache gets big enough.

Searx is privacy focused search engine, so disclosure to end user that however anonymous, caching requires keywords/search term sharing. That is how the cache is built. Opt out.

Proposed searXNG options:

• use cache
• update the cache daily

Make the cache directories

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache
sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache/\! \@ \# \$ \% \& \? a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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sudo chown -R root:searxng /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache
sudo chmod -R 777 /usr/local/searxng/searxng-src/searx/cache
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File: webapp.py: def search(): Line 625: Inject Line 662

The cache filename is the search_term, keyword. So its a file exists if else. Get the first letter of the search term to determine which directory, then complete path to determine if file exists, if the file exists return the json file otherwise perform the search.

def search():
    """Search query in q and return results.

    Supported outputs: html, json, csv, rss.
    """
    # pylint: disable=too-many-locals, too-many-return-statements, too-many-branches
    # pylint: disable=too-many-statements

    # output_format
    output_format = request.form.get('format', 'html')
    if output_format not in OUTPUT_FORMATS:
        output_format = 'html'

    if output_format not in settings['search']['formats']:
        flask.abort(403)

    # check if there is query (not None and not an empty string)
    if not request.form.get('q'):
        if output_format == 'html':
            return render(
                # fmt: off
                'index.html',
                selected_categories=get_selected_categories(request.preferences, request.form),
                # fmt: on
            )
        return index_error(output_format, 'No query'), 400

    # search
    search_query = None
    raw_text_query = None
    result_container = None
    try:
        search_query, raw_text_query, _, _, selected_locale = get_search_query_from_webapp(
            request.preferences, request.form
        )
        search = SearchWithPlugins(search_query, request.user_plugins, request)  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
        result_container = search.search()

############ Start new code

        fname = request.form['q'] + str(search_query.pageno) + str(search_query.categories[0])

        first_char = fname[:1].lower()
        if not first_char.isalnum():
            first_char = '#'

        file_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.join("cache", fname[:1].lower(), fname))

        if not os.path.exists(file_path):
            responsex = webutils.get_json_response(search_query, result_container)
            if len(responsex.strip()) > 1000:  # Checking length greater than 2 to ensure it's not just '{}'
                with open(file_path, "w") as text_file:
                    text_file.write(responsex)  # json.dump(responsex, text_file)
############# End new code

    except SearxParameterException as e:
        logger.exception('search error: SearxParameterException')
        return index_error(output_format, e.message), 400
    except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
        logger.exception(e, exc_info=True)
        return index_error(output_format, gettext('search error')), 500
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File: __init__.py in search, entire file for replacement

# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
# lint: pylint
# pylint: disable=missing-module-docstring, too-few-public-methods

import os
import time
import json
import threading
from copy import copy
from timeit import default_timer
from uuid import uuid4
from datetime import datetime

from pathlib import Path
import traceback
from typing import List, Tuple

import flask
from flask import copy_current_request_context
import babel

from searx import settings
from searx.answerers import ask
from searx.external_bang import get_bang_url
from searx.results import ResultContainer
from searx import logger
from searx.plugins import plugins
from searx.search.models import EngineRef, SearchQuery
from searx.engines import load_engines
from searx.network import initialize as initialize_network, check_network_configuration
from searx.metrics import initialize as initialize_metrics, counter_inc, histogram_observe_time
from searx.search.processors import PROCESSORS, initialize as initialize_processors
from searx.search.checker import initialize as initialize_checker


logger = logger.getChild('search')


def initialize(settings_engines=None, enable_checker=False, check_network=False, enable_metrics=True):
    settings_engines = settings_engines or settings['engines']
    load_engines(settings_engines)
    initialize_network(settings_engines, settings['outgoing'])
    if check_network:
        check_network_configuration()
    initialize_metrics([engine['name'] for engine in settings_engines], enable_metrics)
    initialize_processors(settings_engines)
    if enable_checker:
        initialize_checker()

class Search:
    """Search information container"""

    __slots__ = "search_query", "result_container", "start_time", "actual_timeout"

    def __init__(self, search_query: SearchQuery):
        """Initialize the Search"""
        # init vars
        super().__init__()
        self.search_query = search_query
        self.result_container = ResultContainer()
        self.start_time = None
        self.actual_timeout = None

    def search_external_bang(self):
        """
        Check if there is a external bang.
        If yes, update self.result_container and return True
        """
        if self.search_query.external_bang:
            self.result_container.redirect_url = get_bang_url(self.search_query)

            # This means there was a valid bang and the
            # rest of the search does not need to be continued
            if isinstance(self.result_container.redirect_url, str):
                return True
        return False

    def search_answerers(self):
        """
        Check if an answer return a result.
        If yes, update self.result_container and return True
        """
        answerers_results = ask(self.search_query)

        if answerers_results:
            for results in answerers_results:
                self.result_container.extend('answer', results)
            return True
        return False

    # do search-request
    def _get_requests(self):

        # init vars
        requests = []

        # max of all selected engine timeout
        default_timeout = 0

        # start search-request for all selected engines
        for engineref in self.search_query.engineref_list:
            processor = PROCESSORS[engineref.name]

            # stop the request now if the engine is suspend
            if processor.extend_container_if_suspended(self.result_container):
                continue

            # set default request parameters
            request_params = processor.get_params(self.search_query, engineref.category)
            if request_params is None:
                continue

            counter_inc('engine', engineref.name, 'search', 'count', 'sent')

            # append request to list
            requests.append((engineref.name, self.search_query.query, request_params))

            # update default_timeout
            default_timeout = max(default_timeout, processor.engine.timeout)

        # adjust timeout
        max_request_timeout = settings['outgoing']['max_request_timeout']
        actual_timeout = default_timeout
        query_timeout = self.search_query.timeout_limit

        if max_request_timeout is None and query_timeout is None:
            # No max, no user query: default_timeout
            pass
        elif max_request_timeout is None and query_timeout is not None:
            # No max, but user query: From user query except if above default
            actual_timeout = min(default_timeout, query_timeout)
        elif max_request_timeout is not None and query_timeout is None:
            # Max, no user query: Default except if above max
            actual_timeout = min(default_timeout, max_request_timeout)
        elif max_request_timeout is not None and query_timeout is not None:
            # Max & user query: From user query except if above max
            actual_timeout = min(query_timeout, max_request_timeout)

        logger.debug(
            "actual_timeout={0} (default_timeout={1}, ?timeout_limit={2}, max_request_timeout={3})".format(
                actual_timeout, default_timeout, query_timeout, max_request_timeout
            )
        )

        return requests, actual_timeout


    def search_multiple_requests(self, requests):
        # pylint: disable=protected-access
        search_id = str(uuid4())

        for engine_name, query, request_params in requests:
            _search = copy_current_request_context(PROCESSORS[engine_name].search)
            th = threading.Thread(  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
                target=_search,
                args=(query, request_params, self.result_container, self.start_time, self.actual_timeout),
                name=search_id,
            )
            th._timeout = False
            th._engine_name = engine_name
            th.start()

        for th in threading.enumerate():  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
            if th.name == search_id:
                remaining_time = max(0.0, self.actual_timeout - (default_timer() - self.start_time))
                th.join(remaining_time)
                if th.is_alive():
                    th._timeout = True
                    self.result_container.add_unresponsive_engine(th._engine_name, 'timeout')
                    PROCESSORS[th._engine_name].logger.error('engine timeout')



    def search_multiple_requests2(self, requests):
        # pylint: disable=protected-access
        search_id = str(uuid4())
        mock_result_container = ResultContainer()

        # Modify the path to load the JSON data
        cache_dir = 'cache'
        query_dir = os.path.join(cache_dir, self.search_query.query[0].lower())
        fname = self.search_query.query.lower() + str(self.search_query.pageno) + str(self.search_query.categories[0])  
        # fname = self.search_query.query + str(self.search_query.pageno)
        mock_data_filename = os.path.join(query_dir, fname)


        with open(mock_data_filename, encoding='utf-8') as mock_data_file:
            mock_data = json.load(mock_data_file)
            mock_results = mock_data['results']  # Extract 'results' from the JSON data

            threads = []

            for engine_name, _, _ in requests:
                th = threading.Thread(
                    target=self.mock_search_function,
                    args=(engine_name, mock_results, mock_result_container),
                    name=search_id,
                )
                th._timeout = False
                th._engine_name = engine_name
                th.start()
                threads.append(th)

            remaining_time = None
            for th in threads:
                if th.name == search_id:
                    if remaining_time is None:
                        remaining_time = self.actual_timeout - (default_timer() - self.start_time)
                    th.join(remaining_time)
                    if th.is_alive():
                        th._timeout = True
                        self.result_container.add_unresponsive_engine(th._engine_name, 'timeout')
                        PROCESSORS[th._engine_name].logger.error('engine timeout')

            # Wait for all threads to finish, even if some have timed out
            for th in threads:
                th.join()

        # Copy the mock results to the actual result_container
        self.result_container = mock_result_container

    def mock_search_function(self, engine_name, mock_results, result_container):
        # This is a mock search function
        time.sleep(0.1)  # Simulate some processing time

        # Convert 'publishedDate' string to datetime object
        for result in mock_results:
            if 'publishedDate' in result:
                if isinstance(result['publishedDate'], str):
                    result['publishedDate'] = datetime.fromisoformat(result['publishedDate'])

        result_container.extend(engine_name, mock_results)


    def search_standard(self):
        """
        Update self.result_container, self.actual_timeout
        """
        requests, self.actual_timeout = self._get_requests()

        # Modify the path to load the JSON data
        cache_dir = 'cache'
        query_dir = os.path.join(cache_dir, self.search_query.query[0].lower())  # Force entire query to lowercase
        fname = self.search_query.query.lower() + str(self.search_query.pageno) + str(self.search_query.categories[0])  # Force entire file name to lowercase
        mock_data_filename = os.path.join(query_dir, fname)

#        with open('categories.txt', 'w') as f:
#            f.write(str(self.search_query.categories))

        # send all search-request
        if requests:
            # Check if the file exists in the cache directory
            if os.path.isfile(mock_data_filename): # and self.search_query.categories[0] == 'general':
                self.search_multiple_requests2(requests)
            else:
                self.search_multiple_requests(requests)


#            if os.path.isfile(mock_data_filename):
#                self.search_multiple_requests2(requests)
#            else:
#                self.search_multiple_requests(requests)



        # return results, suggestions, answers and infoboxes
        return True


    # do search-request
    def search(self) -> ResultContainer:
        self.start_time = default_timer()
        if not self.search_external_bang():
            if not self.search_answerers():
                self.search_standard()

        return self.result_container


class SearchWithPlugins(Search):
    """Inherit from the Search class, add calls to the plugins."""

    __slots__ = 'ordered_plugin_list', 'request'

    def __init__(self, search_query: SearchQuery, ordered_plugin_list, request: flask.Request):
        super().__init__(search_query)
        self.ordered_plugin_list = ordered_plugin_list
        self.result_container.on_result = self._on_result
        # pylint: disable=line-too-long
        # get the "real" request to use it outside the Flask context.
        # see
        # * https://github.com/pallets/flask/blob/d01d26e5210e3ee4cbbdef12f05c886e08e92852/src/flask/globals.py#L55
        # * https://github.com/pallets/werkzeug/blob/3c5d3c9bd0d9ce64590f0af8997a38f3823b368d/src/werkzeug/local.py#L548-L559
        # * https://werkzeug.palletsprojects.com/en/2.0.x/local/#werkzeug.local.LocalProxy._get_current_object
        # pylint: enable=line-too-long
        self.request = request._get_current_object()

    def _on_result(self, result):
        return plugins.call(self.ordered_plugin_list, 'on_result', self.request, self, result)

    def search(self) -> ResultContainer:
        if plugins.call(self.ordered_plugin_list, 'pre_search', self.request, self):
            super().search()

        plugins.call(self.ordered_plugin_list, 'post_search', self.request, self)

        self.result_container.close()

        return self.result_container

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Testing the cache

sudo systemctl restart uwsgi
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1. Do the search Immortality Coin
2. Go to the cache directory letter i
3. Open the file and edit a title in the json file
4. Perform another search immortality coin, does it display the altered result?