Extraquery context-aided search intent detection

A software development method for promoting search efficiency using context-based search intent detection, the method comprising:

• receiving a search request via a user interface of a software development tool, the search request including a current query text which upon receipt belongs to a set of query texts received by or accessed by the software development tool;
• automatically gathering search context information which includes more than the set of query texts and a query history derived from the set of query texts;
• automatically detecting a search intent based on at least a portion of the gathered search context information, including distinguishing a code search intent from a non-code search intent or distinguishing between different non-code search intents, or both;
• automatically matching the detected search intent with a search capability of a search provider, the search provider belonging to a set of search providers which are in operable communication with the software development tool;
• automatically forwarding the current query text or a request derived from it to the search provider;
• and
• automatically avoiding sending the current query text or request derived from it to a different search provider of the set whose search capability does not match the detected search intent.

A computer-readable storage medium configured with data and instructions which upon execution by a processor cause a computing system to perform a software development method for promoting search efficiency using context-based search intent detection, the method comprising:

• receiving a search request via a user interface of a software development tool, the search request including a current query text which upon receipt belongs to a set of query texts received by or accessed by the software development tool;
• automatically gathering search context information which includes more than the set of query texts;
• automatically detecting a search intent based on at least a portion of the gathered search context information, including distinguishing a code search intent from a non-code search intent or distinguishing between different non-code search intents, or both;
• automatically matching the detected search intent with a search capability of a search provider, the search provider belonging to a set of at least three search providers which are in operable communication with the software development tool, at least one of the search capabilities being a local source code search capability for searching source code on a machine that is running the software development tool;
• automatically forwarding the current query text or a request derived from it to the search provider;
• and
• automatically avoiding sending the current query text or request derived from it the current query text to a different search provider of the set whose search capability does not match the detected search intent.