Stract and SearXNG are two entirely different projects. SearXNG is just using other search engines to power itself - it’s known as a meta search engine. Stract has its own index that does not use other search engines to power itself.

I will say I’m pretty glad to see a search engine which actually is not just a meta search engine. I wish Kagi would attempt this rather than partnerning with Brave.

One thing I find odd though is why these engines trying to make their own index don’t do the adversarial strategy that Brave Search has done : while using other indexes, collect what people actually click on and use it in your own index. I will note that I do not support Brave.

For most of its history, journalism has been locked behind a paywall. I think it’s a bit disingeneous to claim that this principle is against the idea of journalism. Journalism and especially good journalism is expensive - under a capitalist system, it’s entirely normal to ask for your work to be valued through monetary means.

That said, I’m most annoyed because no one is actually talking about Stract, just about how 404media decided to lock the article.

For everyone complaining about 404media needing an account for the posts, they explain their reasoning here : https://www.404media.co/why-404-media-needs-your-email-address/

I remember hearing this story a long time ago, It’s still so shocking that this happened.