External search

Web Scope and AI/RAG web context share the same providers

What it does

External search connects third-party web retrieval to Starcat:

1. Web Scope in Search Center
2. Web context for AI / RAG when needed (subject to toggles and privacy options)

AnySearch, Tavily, and others are providers—not separate unrelated products.

Provider examples

Provider	Notes
AnySearch	Common option; whether a key is required follows the app
Tavily	API key required
Exa	API key required
Brave LLM Context	API key required

Setup

1. Open Integrations

   Settings → Integrations → External Search.
2. Enable a provider

   Enter the key if required, then save.
3. Test

   Use Test connection to confirm it works.
4. Set default

   Choose the default provider for web search / AI context (options follow the UI).

Also see Integrations settings.

Use in Search Center

⌘K → Scope Web → enter a query → review results with source sites.

Cache and cleanup

Results are cached locally to reduce repeat billing / requests. Clear external search cache in Settings → Storage.

Privacy notes

• Queries are sent to the third-party search services you enable
• Whether private repos may attach external context is governed by integration / AI toggles
• Principles: Privacy