Multi-provider search with Exa → Tavily → Serper → DuckDuckGo fallback chain

.env.example

@@ -46,10 +46,24 @@ MAX_WORKERS=30
 # API Keys and External Services
 # =============================================================================
 
-# Serper API for web search and Google Scholar
+# Web Search Providers (in order of quality/preference)
+# The system will try each provider in order until one succeeds.
+# You only need ONE provider configured, but having multiple provides fallback.
+
+# Exa.ai - Best semantic/neural search ($10 free credits)
+# Get your key from: https://exa.ai/
+EXA_API_KEY=your_key
+
+# Tavily - Purpose-built for RAG/LLMs (1,000 free requests/month)
+# Get your key from: https://tavily.com/
+TAVILY_API_KEY=your_key
+
+# Serper API for Google search results (2,500 free queries)
 # Get your key from: https://serper.dev/
 SERPER_KEY_ID=your_key
 
+# DuckDuckGo is always available as final fallback (FREE, no API key needed)
+
 # Jina API for web page reading
 # Get your key from: https://jina.ai/
 JINA_API_KEYS=your_key
@@ -95,4 +109,17 @@ IDP_KEY_SECRET=your_idp_key_secret
 
 # These are typically set by distributed training frameworks
 # WORLD_SIZE=1
-# RANK=0
+# RANK=0
+
+# =============================================================================
+# llama.cpp Local Inference (Alternative for Mac/Local Users)
+# =============================================================================
+# If using the llama.cpp local inference option instead of vLLM:
+
+# The llama.cpp server URL (default works if using start_llama_server.sh)
+LLAMA_SERVER_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8080
+
+# For llama.cpp mode:
+# - Web search uses DuckDuckGo by default (FREE, no API key needed)
+# - JINA_API_KEYS is optional but recommended for better page reading
+# - See: python inference/interactive_llamacpp.py --help