[refactor] typification of SearXNG (initial) / result items (part 1)

Typification of SearXNG
=======================

This patch introduces the typing of the results.  The why and how is described
in the documentation, please generate the documentation ..

    $ make docs.clean docs.live

and read the following articles in the "Developer documentation":

- result types --> http://0.0.0.0:8000/dev/result_types/index.html

The result types are available from the `searx.result_types` module.  The
following have been implemented so far:

- base result type: `searx.result_type.Result`
  --> http://0.0.0.0:8000/dev/result_types/base_result.html

- answer results
  --> http://0.0.0.0:8000/dev/result_types/answer.html

including the type for translations (inspired by #3925).  For all other
types (which still need to be set up in subsequent PRs), template documentation
has been created for the transition period.

Doc of the fields used in Templates
===================================

The template documentation is the basis for the typing and is the first complete
documentation of the results (needed for engine development).  It is the
"working paper" (the plan) with which further typifications can be implemented
in subsequent PRs.

- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/issues/357

Answer Templates
================

With the new (sub) types for `Answer`, the templates for the answers have also
been revised, `Translation` are now displayed with collapsible entries (inspired
by #3925).

    !en-de dog

Plugins & Answerer
==================

The implementation for `Plugin` and `Answer` has been revised, see
documentation:

- Plugin: http://0.0.0.0:8000/dev/plugins/index.html
- Answerer: http://0.0.0.0:8000/dev/answerers/index.html

With `AnswerStorage` and `AnswerStorage` to manage those items (in follow up
PRs, `ArticleStorage`, `InfoStorage` and .. will be implemented)

Autocomplete
============

The autocompletion had a bug where the results from `Answer` had not been shown
in the past.  To test activate autocompletion and try search terms for which we
have answerers

- statistics: type `min 1 2 3` .. in the completion list you should find an
  entry like `[de] min(1, 2, 3) = 1`

- random: type `random uuid` .. in the completion list, the first item is a
  random UUID

Extended Types
==============

SearXNG extends e.g. the request and response types of flask and httpx, a module
has been set up for type extensions:

- Extended Types
  --> http://0.0.0.0:8000/dev/extended_types.html

Unit-Tests
==========

The unit tests have been completely revised.  In the previous implementation,
the runtime (the global variables such as `searx.settings`) was not initialized
before each test, so the runtime environment with which a test ran was always
determined by the tests that ran before it.  This was also the reason why we
sometimes had to observe non-deterministic errors in the tests in the past:

- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/issues/2988 is one example for the Runtime
  issues, with non-deterministic behavior ..

- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/3650
- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/3654
- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/3642#issuecomment-2226884469
- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/3746#issuecomment-2300965005

Why msgspec.Struct
==================

We have already discussed typing based on e.g. `TypeDict` or `dataclass` in the past:

- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/1562/files
- https://gist.github.com/dalf/972eb05e7a9bee161487132a7de244d2
- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/1412/files
- https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/1356

In my opinion, TypeDict is unsuitable because the objects are still dictionaries
and not instances of classes / the `dataclass` are classes but ...

The `msgspec.Struct` combine the advantages of typing, runtime behaviour and
also offer the option of (fast) serializing (incl. type check) the objects.

Currently not possible but conceivable with `msgspec`: Outsourcing the engines
into separate processes, what possibilities this opens up in the future is left
to the imagination!

Internally, we have already defined that it is desirable to decouple the
development of the engines from the development of the SearXNG core / The
serialization of the `Result` objects is a prerequisite for this.

HINT: The threads listed above were the template for this PR, even though the
implementation here is based on msgspec.  They should also be an inspiration for
the following PRs of typification, as the models and implementations can provide
a good direction.

Why just one commit?
====================

I tried to create several (thematically separated) commits, but gave up at some
point ... there are too many things to tackle at once / The comprehensibility of
the commits would not be improved by a thematic separation. On the contrary, we
would have to make multiple changes at the same places and the goal of a change
would be vaguely recognizable in the fog of the commits.

Signed-off-by: Markus Heiser <markus.heiser@darmarit.de>

1 files changed, 135 insertions, 157 deletions

diff --git a/searx/webapp.py b/searx/webapp.py
index 227f1e84d..c3ce07302 100755
--- a/searx/webapp.py
+++ b/searx/webapp.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 """
 # pylint: disable=use-dict-literal
+from __future__ import annotations
 
 import hashlib
 import hmac
@@ -16,12 +17,12 @@ from timeit import default_timer
 from html import escape
 from io import StringIO
 import typing
-from typing import List, Dict, Iterable
 
 import urllib
 import urllib.parse
 from urllib.parse import urlencode, urlparse, unquote
 
+import warnings
 import httpx
 
 from pygments import highlight
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ from flask_babel import (
     format_decimal,
 )
 
+from searx.extended_types import sxng_request
 from searx import (
     logger,
     get_setting,
@@ -59,7 +61,7 @@ from searx import limiter
 from searx.botdetection import link_token
 
 from searx.data import ENGINE_DESCRIPTIONS
-from searx.results import Timing
+from searx.result_types import Answer
 from searx.settings_defaults import OUTPUT_FORMATS
 from searx.settings_loader import DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE
 from searx.exceptions import SearxParameterException
@@ -90,17 +92,16 @@ from searx.webadapter import (
 from searx.utils import gen_useragent, dict_subset
 from searx.version import VERSION_STRING, GIT_URL, GIT_BRANCH
 from searx.query import RawTextQuery
-from searx.plugins import Plugin, plugins, initialize as plugin_initialize
 from searx.plugins.oa_doi_rewrite import get_doi_resolver
 from searx.preferences import (
     Preferences,
     ClientPref,
     ValidationException,
 )
-from searx.answerers import (
-    answerers,
-    ask,
-)
+import searx.answerers
+import searx.plugins
+
+
 from searx.metrics import get_engines_stats, get_engine_errors, get_reliabilities, histogram, counter, openmetrics
 from searx.flaskfix import patch_application
 
@@ -118,12 +119,15 @@ from searx import favicons
 
 from searx.redisdb import initialize as redis_initialize
 from searx.sxng_locales import sxng_locales
-from searx.search import SearchWithPlugins, initialize as search_initialize
+import searx.search
 from searx.network import stream as http_stream, set_context_network_name
 from searx.search.checker import get_result as checker_get_result
 
+
 logger = logger.getChild('webapp')
 
+warnings.simplefilter("always")
+
 # check secret_key
 if not searx_debug and settings['server']['secret_key'] == 'ultrasecretkey':
     logger.error('server.secret_key is not changed. Please use something else instead of ultrasecretkey.')
@@ -158,24 +162,9 @@ app.jinja_env.filters['group_engines_in_tab'] = group_engines_in_tab  # pylint:
 app.secret_key = settings['server']['secret_key']
 
 
-class ExtendedRequest(flask.Request):
-    """This class is never initialized and only used for type checking."""
-
-    preferences: Preferences
-    errors: List[str]
-    user_plugins: List[Plugin]
-    form: Dict[str, str]
-    start_time: float
-    render_time: float
-    timings: List[Timing]
-
-
-request = typing.cast(ExtendedRequest, flask.request)
-
-
 def get_locale():
     locale = localeselector()
-    logger.debug("%s uses locale `%s`", urllib.parse.quote(request.url), locale)
+    logger.debug("%s uses locale `%s`", urllib.parse.quote(sxng_request.url), locale)
     return locale
 
 
@@ -260,7 +249,7 @@ def custom_url_for(endpoint: str, **values):
         file_hash = static_files.get(values['filename'])
         if not file_hash:
             # try file in the current theme
-            theme_name = request.preferences.get_value('theme')
+            theme_name = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('theme')
             filename_with_theme = "themes/{}/{}".format(theme_name, values['filename'])
             file_hash = static_files.get(filename_with_theme)
             if file_hash:
@@ -268,7 +257,7 @@ def custom_url_for(endpoint: str, **values):
         if get_setting('ui.static_use_hash') and file_hash:
             suffix = "?" + file_hash
     if endpoint == 'info' and 'locale' not in values:
-        locale = request.preferences.get_value('locale')
+        locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('locale')
         if infopage.INFO_PAGES.get_page(values['pagename'], locale) is None:
             locale = infopage.INFO_PAGES.locale_default
         values['locale'] = locale
@@ -295,7 +284,7 @@ def image_proxify(url: str):
     if url.startswith('//'):
         url = 'https:' + url
 
-    if not request.preferences.get_value('image_proxy'):
+    if not sxng_request.preferences.get_value('image_proxy'):
         return url
 
     if url.startswith('data:image/'):
@@ -328,11 +317,11 @@ def get_translations():
     }
 
 
-def get_enabled_categories(category_names: Iterable[str]):
+def get_enabled_categories(category_names: typing.Iterable[str]):
     """The categories in ``category_names```for which there is no active engine
     are filtered out and a reduced list is returned."""
 
-    enabled_engines = [item[0] for item in request.preferences.engines.get_enabled()]
+    enabled_engines = [item[0] for item in sxng_request.preferences.engines.get_enabled()]
     enabled_categories = set()
     for engine_name in enabled_engines:
         enabled_categories.update(engines[engine_name].categories)
@@ -340,7 +329,7 @@ def get_enabled_categories(category_names: Iterable[str]):
 
 
 def get_pretty_url(parsed_url: urllib.parse.ParseResult):
-    url_formatting_pref = request.preferences.get_value('url_formatting')
+    url_formatting_pref = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('url_formatting')
 
     if url_formatting_pref == 'full':
         return [parsed_url.geturl()]
@@ -355,7 +344,7 @@ def get_pretty_url(parsed_url: urllib.parse.ParseResult):
 
 
 def get_client_settings():
-    req_pref = request.preferences
+    req_pref = sxng_request.preferences
     return {
         'autocomplete': req_pref.get_value('autocomplete'),
         'autocomplete_min': get_setting('search.autocomplete_min'),
@@ -389,13 +378,13 @@ def render(template_name: str, **kwargs):
         ),
         encoding='utf-8',
     )
-    kwargs['preferences'] = request.preferences
+    kwargs['preferences'] = sxng_request.preferences
     kwargs.update(client_settings)
 
     # values from the HTTP requests
-    kwargs['endpoint'] = 'results' if 'q' in kwargs else request.endpoint
-    kwargs['cookies'] = request.cookies
-    kwargs['errors'] = request.errors
+    kwargs['endpoint'] = 'results' if 'q' in kwargs else sxng_request.endpoint
+    kwargs['cookies'] = sxng_request.cookies
+    kwargs['errors'] = sxng_request.errors
     kwargs['link_token'] = link_token.get_token()
 
     kwargs['categories_as_tabs'] = list(settings['categories_as_tabs'].keys())
@@ -405,14 +394,14 @@ def render(template_name: str, **kwargs):
     # i18n
     kwargs['sxng_locales'] = [l for l in sxng_locales if l[0] in settings['search']['languages']]
 
-    locale = request.preferences.get_value('locale')
+    locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('locale')
     kwargs['locale_rfc5646'] = _get_locale_rfc5646(locale)
 
     if locale in RTL_LOCALES and 'rtl' not in kwargs:
         kwargs['rtl'] = True
 
     if 'current_language' not in kwargs:
-        kwargs['current_language'] = parse_lang(request.preferences, {}, RawTextQuery('', []))
+        kwargs['current_language'] = parse_lang(sxng_request.preferences, {}, RawTextQuery('', []))
 
     # values from settings
     kwargs['search_formats'] = [x for x in settings['search']['formats'] if x != 'html']
@@ -442,92 +431,80 @@ def render(template_name: str, **kwargs):
         + '?'
         + urlencode(
             {
-                'method': request.preferences.get_value('method'),
-                'autocomplete': request.preferences.get_value('autocomplete'),
+                'method': sxng_request.preferences.get_value('method'),
+                'autocomplete': sxng_request.preferences.get_value('autocomplete'),
             }
         )
     )
     kwargs['urlparse'] = urlparse
 
-    # scripts from plugins
-    kwargs['scripts'] = set()
-    for plugin in request.user_plugins:
-        for script in plugin.js_dependencies:
-            kwargs['scripts'].add(script)
-
-    # styles from plugins
-    kwargs['styles'] = set()
-    for plugin in request.user_plugins:
-        for css in plugin.css_dependencies:
-            kwargs['styles'].add(css)
-
     start_time = default_timer()
     result = render_template('{}/{}'.format(kwargs['theme'], template_name), **kwargs)
-    request.render_time += default_timer() - start_time  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.render_time += default_timer() - start_time  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
 
     return result
 
 
 @app.before_request
 def pre_request():
-    request.start_time = default_timer()  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
-    request.render_time = 0  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
-    request.timings = []  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
-    request.errors = []  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.start_time = default_timer()  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.render_time = 0  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.timings = []  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.errors = []  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
 
-    client_pref = ClientPref.from_http_request(request)
+    client_pref = ClientPref.from_http_request(sxng_request)
     # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
-    preferences = Preferences(themes, list(categories.keys()), engines, plugins, client_pref)
+    preferences = Preferences(themes, list(categories.keys()), engines, searx.plugins.STORAGE, client_pref)
 
-    user_agent = request.headers.get('User-Agent', '').lower()
+    user_agent = sxng_request.headers.get('User-Agent', '').lower()
     if 'webkit' in user_agent and 'android' in user_agent:
         preferences.key_value_settings['method'].value = 'GET'
-    request.preferences = preferences  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.preferences = preferences  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
 
     try:
-        preferences.parse_dict(request.cookies)
+        preferences.parse_dict(sxng_request.cookies)
 
     except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
         logger.exception(e, exc_info=True)
-        request.errors.append(gettext('Invalid settings, please edit your preferences'))
+        sxng_request.errors.append(gettext('Invalid settings, please edit your preferences'))
 
     # merge GET, POST vars
-    # request.form
-    request.form = dict(request.form.items())  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
-    for k, v in request.args.items():
-        if k not in request.form:
-            request.form[k] = v
-
-    if request.form.get('preferences'):
-        preferences.parse_encoded_data(request.form['preferences'])
+    # HINT request.form is of type werkzeug.datastructures.ImmutableMultiDict
+    sxng_request.form = dict(sxng_request.form.items())  # type: ignore
+    for k, v in sxng_request.args.items():
+        if k not in sxng_request.form:
+            sxng_request.form[k] = v
+
+    if sxng_request.form.get('preferences'):
+        preferences.parse_encoded_data(sxng_request.form['preferences'])
     else:
         try:
-            preferences.parse_dict(request.form)
+            preferences.parse_dict(sxng_request.form)
         except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
             logger.exception(e, exc_info=True)
-            request.errors.append(gettext('Invalid settings'))
+            sxng_request.errors.append(gettext('Invalid settings'))
 
     # language is defined neither in settings nor in preferences
     # use browser headers
     if not preferences.get_value("language"):
-        language = _get_browser_language(request, settings['search']['languages'])
+        language = _get_browser_language(sxng_request, settings['search']['languages'])
         preferences.parse_dict({"language": language})
         logger.debug('set language %s (from browser)', preferences.get_value("language"))
 
     # UI locale is defined neither in settings nor in preferences
     # use browser headers
     if not preferences.get_value("locale"):
-        locale = _get_browser_language(request, LOCALE_NAMES.keys())
+        locale = _get_browser_language(sxng_request, LOCALE_NAMES.keys())
         preferences.parse_dict({"locale": locale})
         logger.debug('set locale %s (from browser)', preferences.get_value("locale"))
 
     # request.user_plugins
-    request.user_plugins = []  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.user_plugins = []  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
     allowed_plugins = preferences.plugins.get_enabled()
     disabled_plugins = preferences.plugins.get_disabled()
-    for plugin in plugins:
-        if (plugin.default_on and plugin.id not in disabled_plugins) or plugin.id in allowed_plugins:
-            request.user_plugins.append(plugin)
+    for plugin in searx.plugins.STORAGE:
+        if (plugin.id not in disabled_plugins) or plugin.id in allowed_plugins:
+            sxng_request.user_plugins.append(plugin.id)
 
 
 @app.after_request
@@ -542,13 +519,13 @@ def add_default_headers(response: flask.Response):
 
 @app.after_request
 def post_request(response: flask.Response):
-    total_time = default_timer() - request.start_time
+    total_time = default_timer() - sxng_request.start_time
     timings_all = [
         'total;dur=' + str(round(total_time * 1000, 3)),
-        'render;dur=' + str(round(request.render_time * 1000, 3)),
+        'render;dur=' + str(round(sxng_request.render_time * 1000, 3)),
     ]
-    if len(request.timings) > 0:
-        timings = sorted(request.timings, key=lambda t: t.total)
+    if len(sxng_request.timings) > 0:
+        timings = sorted(sxng_request.timings, key=lambda t: t.total)
         timings_total = [
             'total_' + str(i) + '_' + t.engine + ';dur=' + str(round(t.total * 1000, 3)) for i, t in enumerate(timings)
         ]
@@ -575,18 +552,18 @@ def index_error(output_format: str, error_message: str):
         response_rss = render(
             'opensearch_response_rss.xml',
             results=[],
-            q=request.form['q'] if 'q' in request.form else '',
+            q=sxng_request.form['q'] if 'q' in sxng_request.form else '',
             number_of_results=0,
             error_message=error_message,
         )
         return Response(response_rss, mimetype='text/xml')
 
     # html
-    request.errors.append(gettext('search error'))
+    sxng_request.errors.append(gettext('search error'))
     return render(
         # fmt: off
         'index.html',
-        selected_categories=get_selected_categories(request.preferences, request.form),
+        selected_categories=get_selected_categories(sxng_request.preferences, sxng_request.form),
         # fmt: on
     )
 
@@ -596,15 +573,15 @@ def index():
     """Render index page."""
 
     # redirect to search if there's a query in the request
-    if request.form.get('q'):
-        query = ('?' + request.query_string.decode()) if request.query_string else ''
+    if sxng_request.form.get('q'):
+        query = ('?' + sxng_request.query_string.decode()) if sxng_request.query_string else ''
         return redirect(url_for('search') + query, 308)
 
     return render(
         # fmt: off
         'index.html',
-        selected_categories=get_selected_categories(request.preferences, request.form),
-        current_locale = request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
+        selected_categories=get_selected_categories(sxng_request.preferences, sxng_request.form),
+        current_locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
         # fmt: on
     )
 
@@ -616,14 +593,14 @@ def health():
 
 @app.route('/client<token>.css', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def client_token(token=None):
-    link_token.ping(request, token)
+    link_token.ping(sxng_request, token)
     return Response('', mimetype='text/css')
 
 
 @app.route('/rss.xsl', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def rss_xsl():
     return render_template(
-        f"{request.preferences.get_value('theme')}/rss.xsl",
+        f"{sxng_request.preferences.get_value('theme')}/rss.xsl",
         url_for=custom_url_for,
     )
 
@@ -638,7 +615,7 @@ def search():
     # pylint: disable=too-many-statements
 
     # output_format
-    output_format = request.form.get('format', 'html')
+    output_format = sxng_request.form.get('format', 'html')
     if output_format not in OUTPUT_FORMATS:
         output_format = 'html'
 
@@ -646,12 +623,12 @@ def search():
         flask.abort(403)
 
     # check if there is query (not None and not an empty string)
-    if not request.form.get('q'):
+    if not sxng_request.form.get('q'):
         if output_format == 'html':
             return render(
                 # fmt: off
                 'index.html',
-                selected_categories=get_selected_categories(request.preferences, request.form),
+                selected_categories=get_selected_categories(sxng_request.preferences, sxng_request.form),
                 # fmt: on
             )
         return index_error(output_format, 'No query'), 400
@@ -662,10 +639,10 @@ def search():
     result_container = None
     try:
         search_query, raw_text_query, _, _, selected_locale = get_search_query_from_webapp(
-            request.preferences, request.form
+            sxng_request.preferences, sxng_request.form
         )
-        search = SearchWithPlugins(search_query, request.user_plugins, request)  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
-        result_container = search.search()
+        search_obj = searx.search.SearchWithPlugins(search_query, sxng_request, sxng_request.user_plugins)
+        result_container = search_obj.search()
 
     except SearxParameterException as e:
         logger.exception('search error: SearxParameterException')
@@ -680,7 +657,7 @@ def search():
 
     # 2. add Server-Timing header for measuring performance characteristics of
     # web applications
-    request.timings = result_container.get_timings()  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
+    sxng_request.timings = result_container.get_timings()  # pylint: disable=assigning-non-slot
 
     # 3. formats without a template
 
@@ -745,7 +722,7 @@ def search():
         response_rss = render(
             'opensearch_response_rss.xml',
             results=results,
-            q=request.form['q'],
+            q=sxng_request.form['q'],
             number_of_results=result_container.number_of_results,
         )
         return Response(response_rss, mimetype='text/xml')
@@ -779,7 +756,7 @@ def search():
         # fmt: off
         'results.html',
         results = results,
-        q=request.form['q'],
+        q=sxng_request.form['q'],
         selected_categories = search_query.categories,
         pageno = search_query.pageno,
         time_range = search_query.time_range or '',
@@ -793,14 +770,14 @@ def search():
         unresponsive_engines = webutils.get_translated_errors(
             result_container.unresponsive_engines
         ),
-        current_locale = request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
+        current_locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
         current_language = selected_locale,
         search_language = match_locale(
-            search.search_query.lang,
+            search_obj.search_query.lang,
             settings['search']['languages'],
-            fallback=request.preferences.get_value("language")
+            fallback=sxng_request.preferences.get_value("language")
         ),
-        timeout_limit = request.form.get('timeout_limit', None),
+        timeout_limit = sxng_request.form.get('timeout_limit', None),
         timings = engine_timings_pairs,
         max_response_time = max_response_time
         # fmt: on
@@ -821,7 +798,7 @@ def info(pagename, locale):
     if page is None:
         flask.abort(404)
 
-    user_locale = request.preferences.get_value('locale')
+    user_locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('locale')
     return render(
         'info.html',
         all_pages=infopage.INFO_PAGES.iter_pages(user_locale, fallback_to_default=True),
@@ -838,19 +815,23 @@ def autocompleter():
     results = []
 
     # set blocked engines
-    disabled_engines = request.preferences.engines.get_disabled()
+    disabled_engines = sxng_request.preferences.engines.get_disabled()
 
     # parse query
-    raw_text_query = RawTextQuery(request.form.get('q', ''), disabled_engines)
+    raw_text_query = RawTextQuery(sxng_request.form.get('q', ''), disabled_engines)
     sug_prefix = raw_text_query.getQuery()
 
+    for obj in searx.answerers.STORAGE.ask(sug_prefix):
+        if isinstance(obj, Answer):
+            results.append(obj.answer)
+
     # normal autocompletion results only appear if no inner results returned
     # and there is a query part
     if len(raw_text_query.autocomplete_list) == 0 and len(sug_prefix) > 0:
 
         # get SearXNG's locale and autocomplete backend from cookie
-        sxng_locale = request.preferences.get_value('language')
-        backend_name = request.preferences.get_value('autocomplete')
+        sxng_locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('language')
+        backend_name = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('autocomplete')
 
         for result in search_autocomplete(backend_name, sug_prefix, sxng_locale):
             # attention: this loop will change raw_text_query object and this is
@@ -862,11 +843,7 @@ def autocompleter():
         for autocomplete_text in raw_text_query.autocomplete_list:
             results.append(raw_text_query.get_autocomplete_full_query(autocomplete_text))
 
-    for answers in ask(raw_text_query):
-        for answer in answers:
-            results.append(str(answer['answer']))
-
-    if request.headers.get('X-Requested-With') == 'XMLHttpRequest':
+    if sxng_request.headers.get('X-Requested-With') == 'XMLHttpRequest':
         # the suggestion request comes from the searx search form
         suggestions = json.dumps(results)
         mimetype = 'application/json'
@@ -887,27 +864,27 @@ def preferences():
     # pylint: disable=too-many-statements
 
     # save preferences using the link the /preferences?preferences=...
-    if request.args.get('preferences') or request.form.get('preferences'):
+    if sxng_request.args.get('preferences') or sxng_request.form.get('preferences'):
         resp = make_response(redirect(url_for('index', _external=True)))
-        return request.preferences.save(resp)
+        return sxng_request.preferences.save(resp)
 
     # save preferences
-    if request.method == 'POST':
+    if sxng_request.method == 'POST':
         resp = make_response(redirect(url_for('index', _external=True)))
         try:
-            request.preferences.parse_form(request.form)
+            sxng_request.preferences.parse_form(sxng_request.form)
         except ValidationException:
-            request.errors.append(gettext('Invalid settings, please edit your preferences'))
+            sxng_request.errors.append(gettext('Invalid settings, please edit your preferences'))
             return resp
-        return request.preferences.save(resp)
+        return sxng_request.preferences.save(resp)
 
     # render preferences
-    image_proxy = request.preferences.get_value('image_proxy')  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
-    disabled_engines = request.preferences.engines.get_disabled()
-    allowed_plugins = request.preferences.plugins.get_enabled()
+    image_proxy = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('image_proxy')  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+    disabled_engines = sxng_request.preferences.engines.get_disabled()
+    allowed_plugins = sxng_request.preferences.plugins.get_enabled()
 
     # stats for preferences page
-    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
+    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: sxng_request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
 
     engines_by_category = {}
 
@@ -938,7 +915,7 @@ def preferences():
             'rate95': rate95,
             'warn_timeout': e.timeout > settings['outgoing']['request_timeout'],
             'supports_selected_language': e.traits.is_locale_supported(
-                str(request.preferences.get_value('language') or 'all')
+                str(sxng_request.preferences.get_value('language') or 'all')
             ),
             'result_count': result_count,
         }
@@ -991,7 +968,7 @@ def preferences():
     supports = {}
     for _, e in filtered_engines.items():
         supports_selected_language = e.traits.is_locale_supported(
-            str(request.preferences.get_value('language') or 'all')
+            str(sxng_request.preferences.get_value('language') or 'all')
         )
         safesearch = e.safesearch
         time_range_support = e.time_range_support
@@ -1011,31 +988,28 @@ def preferences():
     return render(
         # fmt: off
         'preferences.html',
-        selected_categories = get_selected_categories(request.preferences, request.form),
+        preferences = True,
+        selected_categories = get_selected_categories(sxng_request.preferences, sxng_request.form),
         locales = LOCALE_NAMES,
-        current_locale = request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
+        current_locale = sxng_request.preferences.get_value("locale"),
         image_proxy = image_proxy,
         engines_by_category = engines_by_category,
         stats = stats,
         max_rate95 = max_rate95,
         reliabilities = reliabilities,
         supports = supports,
-        answerers = [
-            {'info': a.self_info(), 'keywords': a.keywords}
-            for a in answerers
-        ],
+        answer_storage = searx.answerers.STORAGE.info,
         disabled_engines = disabled_engines,
         autocomplete_backends = autocomplete_backends,
         favicon_resolver_names = favicons.proxy.CFG.resolver_map.keys(),
         shortcuts = {y: x for x, y in engine_shortcuts.items()},
         themes = themes,
-        plugins = plugins,
-        doi_resolvers = settings['doi_resolvers'],
-        current_doi_resolver = get_doi_resolver(request.preferences),
+        plugins_storage = searx.plugins.STORAGE.info,
+        current_doi_resolver = get_doi_resolver(sxng_request.preferences),
         allowed_plugins = allowed_plugins,
-        preferences_url_params = request.preferences.get_as_url_params(),
-        locked_preferences = settings['preferences']['lock'],
-        preferences = True
+        preferences_url_params = sxng_request.preferences.get_as_url_params(),
+        locked_preferences = get_setting("preferences.lock", []),
+        doi_resolvers = get_setting("doi_resolvers", {}),
         # fmt: on
     )
 
@@ -1047,11 +1021,11 @@ app.add_url_rule('/favicon_proxy', methods=['GET'], endpoint="favicon_proxy", vi
 def image_proxy():
     # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements, too-many-branches
 
-    url = request.args.get('url')
+    url = sxng_request.args.get('url')
     if not url:
         return '', 400
 
-    if not is_hmac_of(settings['server']['secret_key'], url.encode(), request.args.get('h', '')):
+    if not is_hmac_of(settings['server']['secret_key'], url.encode(), sxng_request.args.get('h', '')):
         return '', 400
 
     maximum_size = 5 * 1024 * 1024
@@ -1143,10 +1117,10 @@ def engine_descriptions():
 @app.route('/stats', methods=['GET'])
 def stats():
     """Render engine statistics page."""
-    sort_order = request.args.get('sort', default='name', type=str)
-    selected_engine_name = request.args.get('engine', default=None, type=str)
+    sort_order = sxng_request.args.get('sort', default='name', type=str)
+    selected_engine_name = sxng_request.args.get('engine', default=None, type=str)
 
-    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
+    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: sxng_request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
     if selected_engine_name:
         if selected_engine_name not in filtered_engines:
             selected_engine_name = None
@@ -1209,7 +1183,7 @@ def stats():
 
 @app.route('/stats/errors', methods=['GET'])
 def stats_errors():
-    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
+    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: sxng_request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
     result = get_engine_errors(filtered_engines)
     return jsonify(result)
 
@@ -1227,10 +1201,10 @@ def stats_open_metrics():
     if not (settings['general'].get("enable_metrics") and password):
         return Response('open metrics is disabled', status=404, mimetype='text/plain')
 
-    if not request.authorization or request.authorization.password != password:
+    if not sxng_request.authorization or sxng_request.authorization.password != password:
         return Response('access forbidden', status=401, mimetype='text/plain')
 
-    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
+    filtered_engines = dict(filter(lambda kv: sxng_request.preferences.validate_token(kv[1]), engines.items()))
 
     checker_results = checker_get_result()
     checker_results = (
@@ -1260,11 +1234,11 @@ Disallow: /*?*q=*
 
 @app.route('/opensearch.xml', methods=['GET'])
 def opensearch():
-    method = request.preferences.get_value('method')
-    autocomplete = request.preferences.get_value('autocomplete')
+    method = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('method')
+    autocomplete = sxng_request.preferences.get_value('autocomplete')
 
     # chrome/chromium only supports HTTP GET....
-    if request.headers.get('User-Agent', '').lower().find('webkit') >= 0:
+    if sxng_request.headers.get('User-Agent', '').lower().find('webkit') >= 0:
         method = 'GET'
 
     if method not in ('POST', 'GET'):
@@ -1277,9 +1251,9 @@ def opensearch():
 
 @app.route('/favicon.ico')
 def favicon():
-    theme = request.preferences.get_value("theme")
+    theme = sxng_request.preferences.get_value("theme")
     return send_from_directory(
-        os.path.join(app.root_path, settings['ui']['static_path'], 'themes', theme, 'img'),  # pyright: ignore
+        os.path.join(app.root_path, settings['ui']['static_path'], 'themes', theme, 'img'),  # type: ignore
         'favicon.png',
         mimetype='image/vnd.microsoft.icon',
     )
@@ -1288,7 +1262,7 @@ def favicon():
 @app.route('/clear_cookies')
 def clear_cookies():
     resp = make_response(redirect(url_for('index', _external=True)))
-    for cookie_name in request.cookies:
+    for cookie_name in sxng_request.cookies:
         resp.delete_cookie(cookie_name)
     return resp
 
@@ -1298,7 +1272,7 @@ def config():
     """Return configuration in JSON format."""
     _engines = []
     for name, engine in engines.items():
-        if not request.preferences.validate_token(engine):
+        if not sxng_request.preferences.validate_token(engine):
             continue
 
         _languages = engine.traits.languages.keys()
@@ -1319,8 +1293,8 @@ def config():
         )
 
     _plugins = []
-    for _ in plugins:
-        _plugins.append({'name': _.name, 'enabled': _.default_on})
+    for _ in searx.plugins.STORAGE:
+        _plugins.append({'name': _.id, 'enabled': _.default_on})
 
     _limiter_cfg = limiter.get_cfg()
 
@@ -1375,8 +1349,12 @@ werkzeug_reloader = flask_run_development or (searx_debug and __name__ == "__mai
 if not werkzeug_reloader or (werkzeug_reloader and os.environ.get("WERKZEUG_RUN_MAIN") == "true"):
     locales_initialize()
     redis_initialize()
-    plugin_initialize(app)
-    search_initialize(enable_checker=True, check_network=True, enable_metrics=settings['general']['enable_metrics'])
+    searx.plugins.initialize(app)
+    searx.search.initialize(
+        enable_checker=True,
+        check_network=True,
+        enable_metrics=get_setting("general.enable_metrics"),
+    )
     limiter.initialize(app, settings)
     favicons.init()