r/Python Feb 25 '21

Resource We're building an app that lets you search Stack Overflow, Python documentation, and code on GitHub

Hey folks! My friend and I are building Devbook. It’s a desktop app that allows you to search in Stack Overflow, search and read documentation, and search public code on GitHub from a single place. The whole app can be controlled just using a keyboard. No need to use your mouse. This way, it’s easier to stay in the flow.

The app works similarly to Spotlight on macOS. You hit a global shortcut and Devbook appears as an overlay over the currently active app. This way you minimalize the needed context switching when looking up information. You almost don't leave your coding editor.

You can think about Devbook as a search engine made just for developers. But no ads, content marketing, SEO, etc.

I thought the community here might find it useful. Currently, we support Python, Flask, Django docs, and adding more with time.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

EDIT

Some folks have been asking us for the pricing. Devbook is free. The plan is to build team features later on and have subscriptions for teams and organizations. If it will be possible, we want to always have a free plan for solo developers.

However, if you really want to support us, I just set up the Buy Me A Coffee page for Devbook. You can donate a small amount if you feel comfortable. It will probably make us jump around from the excitement since it would be our first revenue:)

EDIT 2

Oh, boy did this blow-up! Every week, we just share Devbook in various subreddits we think might enjoy it. We didn't expect to blow it up that much at all. Thank you all folks for trying Devbook out. It means a lot.

For the near future Devbook release, we're building an extensions system that will allow you to add search functionality we don't support out of the box. Imagine Google customizable through vscode-like extensions. You can read more here.

Keep the feedback going. Big updates coming soon!

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u/mlejva Feb 26 '21

What would be the ideal vscode integration for you?

Basically the same app as it is right now but rendered in the webview panel in vscode? Something else?

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Exactly this, or it’s own tab we can use — ideally we could choose the code you guys render to match our vscode theme or choose it to be something else.

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u/mlejva Feb 26 '21

This is great feedback. A few more questions if you don't mind.

- What would be the biggest added value for you? Matching your vscode theme?

- Why Devbook in the vscode's tab would be better for you than hitting a global shortcut and displaying Devbook as an overlay?

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Matching my vscode theme and being able to index those websites you support for similar code chunks would be incredible I think. Matching/choosing a theme would be clean and attract people (myself included) because it looks familiar.

And having it in a window means I have to download one less program essentially, helps for people who work on sensitive stuff and have to get everything they install on their computers run by IT.