Question 1

howdoi vs. searching Stack Overflow directly in browser?

Accepted Answer

howdoi is faster for quick code snippets without leaving the terminal, but direct browser searches offer more context, discussions, and upvoted answers. howdoi is best for immediate needs, while browsers are better for deep dives and verifying information.

Question 2

how to save and reuse answers in howdoi?

Accepted Answer

Use the --save flag to stash an answer, then --view to see saved answers, and --remove to delete them. This feature is detailed in the stashing commands section of the README, allowing local management of frequent queries.

Question 3

Does howdoi work offline?

Accepted Answer

No, howdoi requires internet access to fetch answers from search engines and StackExchange. However, stashed answers can be viewed offline using the --view command, but new queries won't function without a connection.

Question 4

How accurate are the answers from howdoi?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy varies as answers come from community sources like Stack Overflow. While often useful, they may not always be up-to-date or correct, so verification is recommended, especially for critical code changes.

Question 5

Can I use howdoi for non-programming questions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by setting the HOWDOI_URL environment variable to other StackExchange sites, such as cooking.stackexchange.com, as shown in the aliases example. This allows queries on topics like cooking, but it's optimized for programming.

Question 6

What search engines does howdoi support?

Accepted Answer

howdoi supports Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo, configurable via the -e flag or environment variables like HOWDOI_SEARCH_ENGINE. This flexibility lets users choose their preferred search source for fetching answers.

Question 7

How to clear the cache in howdoi?

Accepted Answer

Use the -C or --clear-cache flag to clear the cache. This is useful if you encounter stale or incorrect answers, as mentioned in the command options, helping refresh data from search engines.

howdoi

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