using github search api without specifying the repository or organization

Question

I want to get a list of repositories or files where the contents of the files contained in the repositories match the keywords I specify in the search. I tried doing a simple search using https GET request and it looks like the search is not possible without specifying the repository or organization name. I get the below error.

https://api.github.com/search/code?q=authorization+in:file

{
  "message": "Validation Failed",
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "Must include at least one user, organization, or repository",
      "resource": "Search",
      "field": "q",
      "code": "invalid"
    }
  ],
  "documentation_url": "https://developer.github.com/v3/search/#search-code"
}

I understand that searching without repository or organization name will be resource-intensive operation. Is there any work-around for this? I was assuming that since I am able to get results by using online search, I should be able to achieve the same using git search api.

So basically I am trying to simulate the below:

https://github.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=authorization&type=Code&ref=searchresults

Answer 1

Is there any work-around for this? I was assuming that since I am able to get results by using online search, I should be able to achieve the same using git search api.

The behavior you observed is expected for now -- you indeed need to specify a user, org or repository when using the code search API (something you don't need to do when using the Web UI), and currently there is no way around that.

https://developer.github.com/changes/2013-10-18-new-code-search-requirements/