Freeform settings can not be found

[roberth]

Problem

For example, this search nix.settings.download-buffer-size leads a user to believe that the setting does not exist.

Proposed solution

When an option is not found, look up shorter prefixes. If shorter prefixes exist, show them in the results.
Ideally the UI knows which options are freeform, so that it can add a helpful text such as "This is a freeform option that appears to match your query. Whether <unmatched suffix> is supported depends on the tool that parses this option."

[raboof]

I don't know how hard/easy this is with ElasticSearch, but it seems like a good idea! Would you be interested in giving it a shot?

[malikwirin]

What is the reason for it to not appear on search.nixos.org?

[roberth]

@malikwirin

1. It's not explicitly listed in the module; see RFC 42, part 2, balancing module option count
2. search currently requires the whole query to match a substring of the option metadata, however, due to (1), such a substring does not exist.

@raboof

I have decent Elm experience, but no time now. (Wouldn't mind getting paid to fix a few things here at some point, if folks consider that necessary)
That said, the language is easy to learn, and the usage patterns are idiosyncratic and verbose, but not particularly complicated either. If someone else wants to bite their teeth into it, even better.