Advanced Search Functionality on scala-lang.org Proposal

[PRIYANSHU2026]

Advanced Search Functionality on scala-lang.org Proposal

Project Title: Advanced Search Functionality for scala-lang.org

Description:

This project seeks to add full-text search, comprehensive, and user-friendly search functionality, filters, and highlighting of search terms in results across all content available on thescala-lang.org website.

Objectives:

1. Implement full-text search capabilities.
2. Add controls for separating and limiting the search results by content type, such as blog, tutorial, and documentation.
3. Search term highlighting within the search results.
4. Quick, relevant, and intuitive search functionality.

Features:

1. Full-Text Search:
   -. Enable users to perform keyword searches against the full text of all content on the site — pages, posts, and documentation.

2. Filters for Search Results:
   Add filters to allow the user to narrow down the results based on content type:
   • Blog posts
   • Tutorials
   • Documentation
   • News
   Other filters by metadata, such as date and author.

3. Term highlighting in search:

• Emphasize what the consumers were looking for on the search results so that it becomes easy for them to know what/where it is.

4. User-Friendly Interface:

• Clean, self-explanatory search interface that shall blend into the existing site design.

Implementation Plan:

1. Search Backend Setup:

• Choose an indexing search engine, such as Elasticsearch or Algolia, for site content.
  Configure search engine to crawl and index all content of the site.
   

2. Search Interface Development:
     Create a search bar in HTML, CSS and a results page in JavaScript
     Add the search bar at the header of the website for easy access create a design of the result page which will include filtered and highlighted search results.

3. Implementation of Filtering Mechanism
   A filtering mechanism shall be developed in JavaScript that shall assist the user in narrowing the searched results.
   The filters will be dynamic and update the search results in real time.

4. Highlight Search Terms
   This will be a method implemented in JavaScript that shall highlight the search terms within the search results.

5. Testing and Optimization:
   Test extensively for accuracy and speed in search functionality.
   Optimize search algorithm to return results fast and relevantly.

6. Documenting and Deploying
   Document the search functionality, clearly detailing how the index is to be maintained or upgraded on the site.
   Deploy the developed search functionality onto the production site.

Resources Required:

• Access to the scala-lang.org repository.
• Search engine Elasticsearch or Algolia account and API access.
• Development environment setup with necessary tools and libraries.

**Possible Issues:

Ensure that all content is indexed correctly and kept up to date in real time by the search engine. Ensure that even with an increase in site content, search performance and relevance does not degrade. Integrate the search functionality without disrupting the existing site design and performance.

Success Metrics:

Improved user satisfaction for the search functionality
Fast Increased usage of the search feature to be measured by site analytics
Est Very positive feedback from the community and contributors

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It is expected that with the aid of these advanced search features, usability and accessibility in scala-lang.org will allow users to efficiently find information they want from the webpage, resulting in high ratings on User Experience and Engagement.

[bishabosha]

Hi, thanks for opening this proposal. We already have an algolia search, what would be different?

mind - it is on the docs.scala-lang.org only currently

[PRIYANSHU2026]

@bishabosha sir
Differences between current Algolia Search on docs.scala-lang.org and Proposed Search for scala-lang.org

Current Algolia Search on docs.scala-lang.org

• Scope: It indexes and searches within just documentation content.
• Filters: Focus on filters for documentation categories and versions.
• Highlighting: Basic term highlighting within documentation results.
• Interface: This is integrated inside the documentation site, and it is very minimally configured.

Proposed Algolia Search for scala-lang.org:

• Scope Extension: Indexes and searches all the content of scala-lang.org, including blog posts, news, events, and tutorials.
• Advanced Filtering: Introduces filters by content types, such as blog posts, tutorials, news, and events, by date range, and by author.
• Enhanced Highlighting: Highlights search terms in the different content types.
• User Interface: The search bar will be well exposed in the header of the website and use consistent design with scala-lang.org.
  Optimized Performance: Fast and relevant results on more content areas.

Key Benefits:

• Improved User Experience: Single interface for all content types.
• Improved Discoverability: Better chances of finding useful information.
• Customizable Filters: Advanced filters for refinement of the search results

currently I am studying Scala subject in my Academics in 2 nd year b-tech as Lab program that's why after researching collecting information I got motivation to enhanced this Algolia Search for scala-lang.org with the help of your team

[PRIYANSHU2026]

@bishabosha sir are you there

[bishabosha]

@bishabosha sir are you there

please don't notify people for a "bump" - you are of course free to experiment using your own resources without asking for permission

[PRIYANSHU2026]

ok sir @bishabosha but please assign me