[OSS GAP] Pocket Search #search #too-expensive #self-hosted #cheap-win
Pain: Small docs sites and WooCommerce stores keep hitting the same wall: they need typo tolerance + synonyms + decent autocomplete, but Algolia/plugins/cloud search are overpriced, and Elasticsearch-style setups are absurd for their size.
Why now: The market mood in 2026 is simple: fewer tools, lower bills, less ceremony. Search is one of those features everyone needs, but almost nobody wants to pay enterprise tax for.
Tiny wedge: Self-hosted search with SQLite FTS5, typo tolerance, synonyms JSON, sitemap ingest, and an embeddable widget.
Why this wins: It replaces recurring search spend with a boring, predictable box small teams can actually run.
Stack: TypeScript + Node.js + SQLite + Web Components.