.. _devquickstart:

======================
Development Quickstart
======================

.. _npm: https://www.npmjs.com/
.. _Node.js: https://nodejs.org/


.. sidebar:: further read

   - :ref:`makefile`
   - :ref:`buildhosts`

SearXNG loves developers; Developers do not need to worry about tool chains, the
usual developer tasks can be comfortably executed via :ref:`make <makefile>`.

Don't hesitate, just clone SearXNG's sources and start hacking right now ..

.. code:: bash

    git clone https://github.com/searxng/searxng.git searxng

Here is how a minimal workflow looks like:

1. *start* hacking
2. *run* your code: :ref:`make run`
3. *format & test* your code: :ref:`make format.python` and :ref:`make test`

.. tip::

   If you run `make install`, and you export the environment variable
   `SEARXNG_PRECOMMIT="true"`, a git pre-commit hook will run which will auto format
   all python files you check into git for you. If you find this would be
   better to enable by default, let us know.

If you think at some point something fails, go back to *start*.  Otherwise,
choose a meaningful commit message and we are happy to receive your pull
request. To not end in *wild west* we have some directives, please pay attention
to our ":ref:`how to contribute`" guideline.

.. sidebar:: further read

   - :ref:`make nvm`
   - :ref:`make themes`

If you implement themes, you will need to setup a :ref:`Node.js environment
<make node.env>`: ``make node.env``

Before you call *make run* (2.), you need to compile the modified styles and
JavaScript: ``make themes.all``

Alternatively you can also compile selective the theme you have modified,
e.g. the *simple* theme.

.. code:: bash

   make themes.simple

.. tip::

   To get live builds while modifying CSS & JS use: ``LIVE_THEME=simple make run``

.. sidebar:: further read

   - :ref:`make static.build`

If you finished your *tests* you can start to commit your changes.  To separate
the modified source code from the build products first run:

.. code:: bash

   make static.build.restore

This will restore the old build products and only your changes of the code
remain in the working tree which can now be added & committed.  When all sources
are committed, you can commit the build products simply by:

.. code:: bash

   make static.build.commit

Committing the build products should be the last step, just before you send us
your PR.  There is also a make target to rewind this last build commit:

.. code:: bash

   make static.build.drop