I like the idea of encouraging new users to search before posting. I also agree that most beginners questions have already been asked and answered.

This community has already managed to build a great library of detailed questions and answers to most of basic programming related questions.

But,

The current search engine is far from good. It would need rebuilding

I disagree with this view. Since I have learnt how to properly use the SO search box, I find it very useful, quick, and to the point (based on the actual search query).

I takes me a lot less time and clicks to find exactly what I need by composing a detailed query than to go through a few pages via google search(even if they redirect to SO). It's not the same google as a few years ago, now everything is somehow filtered. I don't want to go into details about how google engine work here as it would be off-topic but in general I really honestly prefer to use the internal SO search box.

I don't think it needs rebuilding at all. I think with a bit of more user-friendly help page we could really expose the power of the SO search engine to everyone (including new users as well as veterans who never bothered using the internal search box).

Redirecting new users to the "HOW DO I SEARCH" once they click "ASK QUESTION" button would be worth giving a go. Say someone has already asked a question (or 2 or 5) and they have been well received by the community -> so that user doesn't get redirected to "HOW I SEARCH" and therefore is eligible of asking a new question directly. All other users should be encouraged to "SEARCH" before posting their (almost always already answered) question and I think most of the people here will agree with that.

I like the idea of encouraging new users to search before posting. I also agree that most beginners questions have already been asked and answered.

This community has already managed to build a great library of detailed questions and answers to most of basic programming related questions.

But,

The current search engine is far from good. It would need rebuilding

I disagree with this view. Since I have learnt how to properly use the SO search box, I find it very useful, quick, and to the point (based on the actual search query).

I takes me a lot less time and clicks to find exactly what I need by composing a detailed query than to go through a few pages via google search(even if they redirect to SO). It's not the same google as a few years ago, now everything is somehow filtered. I don't want to go into details about how google engine work here as it would be off-topic but in general I really honestly prefer to use the internal SO search box.

I don't think it needs rebuilding at all. I think with a bit of more user-friendly help page we could really expose the power of the SO search engine to everyone (including new users as well as veterans who never bothered using the internal search box).

Redirecting new users to the "HOW DO I SEARCH" once they click "ASK QUESTION" button would be worth giving a go. Say someone has already asked a question (or 2 or 5) and they have been well received by the community -> so that user doesn't get redirected to "HOW I SEARCH" and therefore is eligible of asking a new question directly. All other users should be encouraged to "SEARCH" before posting their (almost always already answered) question and I think most of the people here will agree with that.

I like the idea of encouraging new users to search before posting. I also agree that most beginners questions have already been asked and answered.

This community has already managed to build a great library of detailed questions and answers to most of basic programming related questions.

But,

The current search engine is far from good. It would need rebuilding

I disagree with this view. Since I have learnt how to properly use the SO search box is find it very useful, quick, and to the point (based on the actual search query).

I takes me a lot less time and clicks to find exactly what I need by composing a detailed query than to go through a few pages via google search(even if they redirect to SO). It's not the same google as a few years ago, now everything is somehow filtered. I don't want to go into details about how google engine work here as it would be off-topic but in general I really honestly prefer to use the internal SO search box.

I don't think it needs rebuilding at all. I think with a bit of more user-friendly help page we could really expose the power of the SO search engine to everyone (including new users as well as veterans who never bothered using the internal search box).

Redirecting new users to the "HOW DO I SEARCH" once they click "ASK QUESTION" button would be worth giving a go. Say someone has already asked a question (or 2 or 5) and they have been well received by the community -> so that user doesn't get redirected to "HOW I SEARCH" and therefore is eligible of asking a new question directly. All other users should be encouraged to "SEARCH" before posting their (almost always already answered) question and I think most of the people here will agree with that.

I like the idea of encouraging new users to search before posting. I also agree that most beginners questions have already been asked and answered.

This community has already managed to build a great library of detailed questions and answers to most of basic programming related questions.

But,

The current search engine is far from good. It would need rebuilding

I disagree with this view. Since I have learnt how to properly use the SO search box, I find it very useful, quick, and to the point (based on the actual search query).

I takes me a lot less time and clicks to find exactly what I need by composing a detailed query than to go through a few pages via google search(even if they redirect to SO). It's not the same google as a few years ago, now everything is somehow filtered. I don't want to go into details about how google engine work here as it would be off-topic but in general I really honestly prefer to use the internal SO search box.

I don't think it needs rebuilding at all. I think with a bit of more user-friendly help page we could really expose the power of the SO search engine to everyone (including new users as well as veterans who never bothered using the internal search box).

Redirecting new users to the "HOW DO I SEARCH" once they click "ASK QUESTION" button would be worth giving a go. Say someone has already asked a question (or 2 or 5) and they have been well received by the community -> so that user doesn't get redirected to "HOW I SEARCH" and therefore is eligible of asking a new question directly. All other users should be encouraged to "SEARCH" before posting their (almost always already answered) question and I think most of the people here will agree with that.