Looks like you didn't get the nuance of the way I answered, I specifically stated creating a google.com equivalent is a big challenge. Either way, OPs statements were poorly phrased, too. A search engine consists of a lot of moving parts. Indexing is not a challenge too great for a solo dev, I've done it myself several times. Crawling is not too challenging for a solo dev, done that, too. A web frontend for the actual searching of the index? Trivial.
Doing any of this at google.com scale? Not happening.
I suggest, like you, OP look into niches. That's how you can break down every one of his 3 statements.
A search engine that specifically rules out every mainstream site? I'd be into that. A search engine built specifically for devs? Again, great. A search engine for blogs not built on Wordpress? Great. An academic search engine? I'd like that, too.
I agree, people are attached, but there are ways to mitigate, at least Duck is trying with their bangs.
A better way to mitigate is creating a niche, like you're suggesting, which is what I only hinted at. Even though I am attached to a particular engine, or website, I would use, IN ADDITION, niche engines.
I like the idea of searching with big exceptions. Specifically not searching mainstream sites sounds very interesting. In theory it would penalize those that are successful, but then they would be picked up and prioritized by the bigger search engines, so it could be a hit.
Doing any of this at google.com scale? Not happening.
I suggest, like you, OP look into niches. That's how you can break down every one of his 3 statements.
A search engine that specifically rules out every mainstream site? I'd be into that. A search engine built specifically for devs? Again, great. A search engine for blogs not built on Wordpress? Great. An academic search engine? I'd like that, too.
I agree, people are attached, but there are ways to mitigate, at least Duck is trying with their bangs.
A better way to mitigate is creating a niche, like you're suggesting, which is what I only hinted at. Even though I am attached to a particular engine, or website, I would use, IN ADDITION, niche engines.