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Hound

github.com

WebmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 7.7 #16 of 42 in Code Search Tools

What it is

Hound is a free source code search engine that indexes repositories and offers a web interface and a minimal API. Its Go backend maintains a current index for each repository, while its static React frontend provides the web UI. Search uses regular-expression matching with a trigram index. Hound supports Git, Mercurial, SVN, Bazaar, and local repositories; private repositories can be indexed from local directories or reached through file or SSH-style URLs. By default, it checks configured repository URLs for updates every 30 seconds, with an interval that can be changed per repository. It can be built from source or run from the project's Docker image, and the web UI defaults to localhost:6080. Plugins are available for Sublime Text, Vim, Emacs, and Visual Studio Code. Hound is tested on macOS and CentOS and is expected to work on Unix-like systems, but Windows is not supported. It does not support TLS itself; the README suggests running it behind Apache or nginx. Hound uses the MIT license, and the latest listed release is v0.7.1, published May 3, 2023.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Hound is an extremely fast source code search engine with a React frontend and Go backend that maintains an index for each repository.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Deployment
Hound can be built from source or run from the project's GitHub Container Registry Docker image.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The README describes platform support and setup guidance but does not specify a support service.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The repository provides Hound under the MIT License.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Architecture
Hound has a static React frontend and a Go backend that maintains an up-to-date index for each repository and exposes a minimal API.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Creators
Hound was created at Etsy by Kelly Norton and Jonathan Klein.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Docker
Hound provides a Docker image at ghcr.io/hound-search/hound:latest and instructions for building its own image.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Editor integrations
The README lists plugins supporting Sublime Text, Vim, Emacs, and Visual Studio Code.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Index updates
By default, Hound polls configured repository URLs for updates every 30 seconds; the interval can be changed per repository.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Operating-system support
Hound is tested on macOS and CentOS, should work on any Unix-like system, and is not supported on Windows.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Origin
The README says Hound was created at Etsy by Kelly Norton and Jonathan Klein.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform support
The README says Hound is tested on macOS and CentOS and should work on any Unix-like system; Windows is not supported, though it may compile and run.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Private repositories
Private repositories can be indexed from local directories, local clones, or SSH URLs when SSH keys are configured on the Hound host.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Release
The latest release listed on the project's Releases page is v0.7.1, dated May 3, 2023.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Release status
The latest listed release is v0.7.1, published in May 2023.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Repository updates
Hound polls configured repository URLs for updates every 30 seconds by default.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Search engine
Hound’s core is based on regular expression matching with a trigram index.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Search technology
Its core is based on regular-expression matching with a trigram index.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security limitation
Hound does not currently support TLS and is commonly run behind Apache or nginx.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
TLS limitation
Hound does not support TLS itself; the README suggests running it behind Apache or nginx.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Version control
Hound supports Git, Mercurial, SVN, Bazaar, and local repositories.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Web interface
Hound hosts a web UI by default at http://localhost:6080.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports five version-control and repository types.
  • Private repositories can be indexed.
  • Editor plugins cover Sublime Text, Vim, Emacs, and VS Code.
  • Repository polling interval can be changed.

Limits

  • Windows is not supported.
  • Hound does not provide TLS itself.
  • Latest listed release is v0.7.1 from May 2023.

Who it suits

Hound suits developers who want to search code across repositories using regular expressions and a web interface. It may fit teams able to host it on a supported Unix-like system and provide TLS through a proxy.

Verdict

Hound offers repository indexing, regex search, and editor plugins in a self-hosted package. Account for its lack of built-in TLS and unsupported Windows platform when planning deployment.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to HoundAll alternatives →