---

name: search-provider description: Search app provider system - interface definition (id, displayName, refreshSignal, initialize, canHandle, query, dispose), lifecycle diagram, 8 available providers (AppList, WebSearch, FileSearch, Contacts, Calculator, Settings, TextUtils, Termux), registration in MainActivity.

Provider System

The Provider System is the core abstraction that powers all search functionality. Each search source implements the Provider interface.

Provider Interface

Copy// Location: app/src/main/java/com/mrndstvndv/search/provider/Provider.kt

interface Provider {
    val id: String                        // Unique identifier (e.g., "app-list")
    val displayName: String               // Human-readable name
    val refreshSignal: SharedFlow<Unit>   // Emits when provider needs refresh
    
    fun initialize()                      // Heavy setup (called once)
    fun canHandle(query: Query): Boolean  // Filter queries this provider handles
    suspend fun query(query: Query): List<ProviderResult>  // Execute search
    fun dispose()                         // Cleanup resources
}

Provider Lifecycle

Copy┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        PROVIDER LIFECYCLE                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                     │
│   ┌──────────────┐                                                  │
│   │   Created    │  Provider instantiated in MainActivity          │
│   └──────┬───────┘                                                  │
│          │                                                          │
│          ▼                                                          │
│   ┌──────────────┐                                                  │
│   │ initialize() │  Heavy setup: load data, connect to repos       │
│   └──────┬───────┘                                                  │
│          │                                                          │
│          ▼                                                          │
│   ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐     │
│   │                    QUERY LOOP                             │     │
│   │                                                           │     │
│   │   canHandle(query)? ──yes──► query(q) ──► Return results  │     │
│   │         ▲                                      │          │     │
│   │         └──────────── new query ───────────────┘          │     │
│   │                                                           │     │
│   └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘     │
│          │                                                          │
│          │ Activity destroyed                                       │
│          ▼                                                          │
│   ┌──────────────┐                                                  │
│   │   dispose()  │  Cleanup: cancel jobs, release resources        │
│   └──────────────┘                                                  │
│                                                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Available Providers

Provider File Locations

Provider Registration

Providers are instantiated and registered in MainActivity.kt (around line 150):

Copyval providers = remember {
    listOf(
        AppListProvider(context, settingsRepository, ...),
        WebSearchProvider(context, settingsRepository, ...),
        FileSearchProvider(context, fileSearchRepository, ...),
        ContactsProvider(context, ...),
        CalculatorProvider(),
        SettingsProvider(context, ...),
        TextUtilitiesProvider(settingsRepository),
        TermuxProvider(context, settingsRepository)
    )
}

Adding a New Provider

See the search-guides skill for step-by-step instructions on implementing and registering a new provider.

Related Skills

• search-overview - Project overview and architecture
• search-dataflow - How queries flow through providers
• search-guides - Step-by-step guide for adding providers