The Search for Search¶
Description
In q4 of 2019 Slack implemented an oft-requested documentation feature: site search. In this talk I'll tell the story of technical and social considerations that went into implementing search on api.slack.com and the philosophy that's gone into shaping it after.
We implemented search using Algolia's REST API after a long time spent narrowing options. Initially we weren't sure if we wanted to build it in house, or host it on a different site entirely. Conflicts with security and the need for as few dependencies as possible forced us into an implementation that even Algolia itself doesn't recommend.
As we move forward, we're considering the best way to give users relevant results while gently directing them away from old API's and unsupported features. I'll discuss options like visual indicators of age on a search result, smart catalog building/prioritization, and the cost of manually adjusting search.
- Conference: Write the Docs Portland
- Year: 2020
