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matthew-johnson
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duckduckgo-search

Search DuckDuckGo for text, news, images, and videos without API keys.

Updated Apr 20, 2026
Search Tags:#automation#cli#web-search#no-api-key#duckduckgo#search-tool#runtime-check
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/matthew-johnson/hermes-agent --skill duckduckgo-search-matthew-johnson
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: duckduckgo-search
Source: https://github.com/matthew-johnson/hermes-agent/tree/main/optional-skills/research/duckduckgo-search
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/matthew-johnson/hermes-agent --skill duckduckgo-search-matthew-johnson

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires ddgs, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides a lightweight web search workflow using DuckDuckGo that does not require API keys and can be executed locally via CLI or Python runtime checks.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • CLI-first search: Prefer the ddgs command line interface for fast, local queries.
  • Python fallback: Use the DDGS Python class only after ensuring the package is installed in the runtime.
  • Versatile results: Supports text, news, image, and video searches with configurable limits.

Quick Start

Run a search with the provided script to retrieve up to five results from DuckDuckGo.

Frequently Asked Questions about duckduckgo-search

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search the web with DuckDuckGo without an API key?▼

You can perform no-key web search with DuckDuckGo by running the provided scripts locally. The workflow prefers the ddgs CLI for fast queries and falls back to the Python DDGS library if the CLI is missing.

What kind of DuckDuckGo search results can I retrieve using this approach?▼

DuckDuckGo search queries return versatile results across text, news, images, and videos. You can configure limits to retrieve up to five results per query for general research or news gathering.

Do I need the ddgs Python package installed to run DuckDuckGo searches?▼

You need either the ddgs CLI or the Python DDGS library installed in your runtime. The workflow checks for the CLI first and gracefully falls back to the Python package only when the CLI is unavailable.

How do I automate quick information retrieval locally without external API access?▼

You can automate local information retrieval by executing the ddgs CLI command or Python runtime checks within your scripts. This allows fast, no-key query execution directly from your environment.

What are the limitations of using DuckDuckGo for automated web search?▼

DuckDuckGo no-key search is limited to text, news, image, and video queries with configurable limits. It requires local execution via the ddgs CLI or Python library and does not support advanced API authentication features.

Is the ddgs CLI faster than the Python library for DuckDuckGo searches?▼

The ddgs CLI is preferred for fast, local DuckDuckGo queries. The Python DDGS library serves as a fallback when the CLI is missing or unsuitable for the runtime environment.

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