# Instantly Open Any Website Using Raycast

Using an open-source search engine and Raycast, I can get to any website I want instantly.

Using an open-source search engine and Raycast, I can get to any website I want instantly. In this post, I’ll show you how it works and why it’s changed the way I browse the web.

## SearchXNG

The search engine I use is called [SearXNG](https://github.com/searxng/searxng). It’s open-source and runs as a Docker container on your machine. You simply forward port 8080, and you’re ready to go.

See the [SearXNG Docker Container instructions](https://docs.searxng.org/admin/installation-docker.html) for how to set it up.

For example, if you search for `GitHub NeoVim`, you’d expect the first result to be `github.com/neovim/neovim`. This works for a variety of queries:

- Searching my own name, "joshmedeski", puts my website first.
- Searching for “joshmedeski blazing fast window management” brings up my blog post as the top result.
- Typing in “imdb andor” quickly brings up the IMDB page for the TV show, Andor.

## Leveraging Search Engine Skills

Most of us use search engines every day and have developed a sense for what results our keywords will produce. When you know you always want the first result, many search engines offer a “get lucky” feature—essentially rolling the dice to jump straight to the top hit.

## Introducing "Bangs" and Auto Redirects

A key part of this workflow is the use of bangs. [DuckDuckGo popularized the concept](https://duckduckgo.com/bangs) with exclamation points that redirect your search to specific sites.

But SearXNG takes it further with a **double bang auto redirect**. When you use `!!` at the start of your query, you’re automatically redirected to the first result.

### Example Searches

- `!! GitHub NeoVim` → Instantly opens the NeoVim GitHub page.
- `!! Paris France` → Redirects to the Wikipedia entry for France.

Even if the first result isn’t perfect, it’s almost always contextual and relevant.

## Setting Up with Raycast

Here’s how I have it configured:

Create a quicklink in Raycast with the following URL:

```
http://localhost:8080/search?q=!!%20{argument name="term"}
```

- **Double bangs** (`!!`) trigger the auto-redirect.
- The search engine runs locally on `localhost:8080`.
- The API endpoint is `/search`.
- The query includes `!!` and the search term as arguments, which you can pass into Raycast.

When I type `!!` and hit tab, Raycast prompts for the term. I enter what I want, and ARC gives me a preview window with the result.

## Supercharging with a Keyboard Shortcut

I took it a step further by binding the command to **⌥ + 1**. Since the exclamation point is on the `1` key, it’s a fast, muscle-memory shortcut to trigger a search.

Now, I just type the shortcut, enter my keywords, and instantly jump to the page I want—like T-Mux’s documentation or any other site.

## Why This Workflow Works for Me

- **No need for bookmarks:** If I know what I want, I can get to it with keywords.
- **Minimal management:** I don’t have to organize or maintain anything.
- **Accuracy:** I rarely end up on irrelevant pages.
- **Efficiency:** This method is fast, smart, and leverages my existing search skills.

Traditional search engines have almost disappeared from my workflow. For research-heavy browsing, I use a different tool (which I’ll cover in a future post).

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That’s an overview of how I use "searching" and Raycast together to instantly redirect to any website.