Why not add a 'search' link to the top navigation that just links to searchyc.com? Estimated implementation time: 1 to 5 minutes. Then, when HN's own search arrives, you could replace that link.

Appreciating how busy you are, what you do (thank you), how HN is built, the fact HN is not a business par se, and that one would rather not have a feature than something poorly implemented, it nonetheless would still be helpful to many even in a basic form.

Generally, most people here are capable of finding what they want/need (e.g. using the methods repeatedly outlined throughout HN), but that is not really the point.

In most (especially YC) startups, such features are the first to be implemented even if initially they suck - the mantra being release early and iteratively improve.

Hence, I'd have thought search would have been high on the agenda and one of the first things done (even if not optimally - it doesn't have to be good, just 'good enough' to be useful, and can be improved over time) as it is a critical feature in almost every site these days and even on HN is one of the most repeatedly requested and asked-about things.

I don't think it requires infinite time either. :)

In the mean time, can't you set up search powered by searchyc.com?

(At present I use Xichekolas' HN Toolkit GM script that does this.)

This is why $DEITY invented Lucene/Solr, Sphinx, etc.

Use google custom search?