The simple soap search.
GronnFalk is an open-source, privacy-focused metasearch engine built for a simple and independent search experience.
This documentation is open source too. Anyone can edit it and contribute improvements.
- About GronnFalk
- Search Sources
- GronnFalk Instances
- Installation
- Linux Installation
- PHP
- Docker Installation
- Render
- Railway
- GitHub Pages
- API
- Privacy
- Contributing
- Community
- License
GronnFalk was founded on August 14, 2026, inspired by a bar of soap whose texture resembled the shape of the project's logo.
GronnFalk is a metasearch engine. It retrieves results from other search sources instead of maintaining its own web index.
GronnFalk is not a fork of SearXNG.
The name is inspired by Norwegian-style naming. In English, GronnFalk means Green Falcon.
- English pronunciation: GRON-fawk
- Norwegian pronunciation: GROON-falk
Search sources associated with GronnFalk include:
Available sources depend on the instance configuration.
Try one of these GronnFalk instances:
Find more instances or learn how to create your own on the GronnFalk Instances website.
You can deploy GronnFalk using Linux, Docker, Render, or Railway. GitHub Pages can host the static frontend.
- Linux
- Git
- Node.js and npm, if using the Node.js API
- PHP, if running a PHP component
On Ubuntu or Linux Mint:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install git nodejs npm phpgit clone https://github.com/LiamProsser77/gronnfalk.git
cd gronnfalknpm installnpm startThis command requires the repository's package.json to define a working start script.
python3 -m http.server 8080Open http://localhost:8080.
Configure the frontend to use the correct API URL.
PHP can serve dynamic web pages and run PHP-based backends. Installing PHP does not automatically convert the existing Node.js API into PHP.
If your instance contains an index.php file, run:
php -S localhost:8080Open http://localhost:8080.
For production, configure a suitable PHP server or Docker image. If your instance still uses the Node.js API, that API must also be running.
Docker lets you package and run an instance in a container.
- Docker
- Docker Compose, if using a Compose file
- GronnFalk source code
git clone https://github.com/LiamProsser77/gronnfalk.git
cd gronnfalkdocker compose up -d --buildIf the repository includes a suitable Docker Compose file and maps port 8080, open:
docker compose downgit pull
docker compose up -d --buildThe Dockerfile describes how to build the container image. A docker-compose.yml file can configure and start the services. The files and required settings must exist for these commands to work.
- Create an account at Render.
- Connect your GitHub account.
- Select the GronnFalk repository.
- Create a new Web Service, or use the deploy link above.
- Select Docker if you want to build using the repository's
Dockerfile. - Configure environment variables and the service port as needed.
- Start the deployment.
- Wait for the build to finish.
- Open the URL provided by Render.
Make sure the deployment uses a supported runtime and the correct start command. For PHP, configure a compatible PHP runtime or Docker image. For the Node.js API, use the appropriate Node.js command.
Render free services may sleep when idle, depending on the service type and current plan.
- Create a Railway account.
- Create a new project.
- Choose deployment from a GitHub repository.
- Select
LiamProsser77/gronnfalk. - Configure the deployment to use the
Dockerfileif desired. - Configure the required environment variables and port.
- Deploy the service.
- Open the service's networking settings.
- Generate a public domain.
- Visit your new instance.
For PHP, use a compatible PHP runtime or Docker image. For the Node.js API, configure the appropriate start command and settings.
GitHub Pages hosts static HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and image files. It does not run PHP or a Node.js backend.
- Fork the GronnFalk repository.
- Open the repository's Settings.
- Select Pages.
- Choose deployment from a branch.
- Select the main branch and the correct folder.
- Save the settings.
- Wait for the website to publish.
Typical website address:
https://YOUR-USERNAME.github.io/gronnfalk/
Replace YOUR-USERNAME with your GitHub username. Configure the frontend to use a working API hosted separately.
Example search route:
/search?q=dog
Check the backend source code for the current routes, response formats, and configuration.
- GronnFalk aims to avoid unnecessary tracking.
- The project is open source.
- GronnFalk does not maintain its own web index.
- External search providers may receive queries sent to them.
Self-hosting provides more control, but actual privacy depends on the instance configuration and the providers used.
Anyone can help improve GronnFalk by reporting bugs, suggesting features, improving documentation, or submitting code changes.
Join the GronnFalk Matrix room
Visit the GronnFalk Instances website
GronnFalk is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.
This documentation is open source too. You can edit and improve it through GitHub.
GronnFalk — The simple soap search.