DuckDuckGo is a general purpose search engine. We've created a platform called DuckDuckHack that enables developers to write open source plugins on top of the search engine (like add-ons for Firefox). DuckDuckGo plugins react to search queries and provide useful instant answers above traditional links.
If you want to get involved in making DuckDuckGo a better search engine, you've come to the right place!
- If you are a developer, this guide serves as a master jumping-off point for the DuckDuckHack platform.
- If you are not a developer, but would like to become one to help with DuckDuckHack, we recommend the JavaScript course at Codecademy. That will help you to get started with the Spice plugin type (explained below).
- If you have no intention of becoming a developer, there is still a lot you can do at our ideas companion site where you can suggest and comment on plugin ideas such as identifying the best sites and data sources to draw from. Similarly, you can submit issues about current plugins. Both of these activities are very valuable and will help direct community efforts.
The DuckDuckHack platform is constantly changing as community contributors add new features. As a result, some plugin types have better interfaces than others. We will be improving the platform based on your feedback. Our long-term goal is to be able to distribute all DuckDuckHack (and internal) instant answers via the DuckDuckGo Instant Answers API. Currently fathead and goodie plugin types automatically flow through. We are working on exposing the other plugin types, which are more complicated to distribute and can have licensing restrictions.
- To learn about new plugins, follow @duckduckhack
- For ongoing discussion, join the DuckDuckHack list