I've tried to use `/search?` a few times, and I didn't get the results I was looking for. 

For instance, the search for [*get file creation date java*](https://stackoverflow.com/search?q=get+file+creation+date+java) returns what could be considered a canonical question with a good answer (14K views), [Determine file creation date in Java](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2723838/determine-file-creation-date-in-java), in 6th place. 

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hscC3.jpg)

I personally find it quite more convenient to use [google](https://www.google.es/search?q=get+file+date+java) instead. `/search` is, by default, mixed with other related questions *and answers* (I know about `is:question`, and I think it should be the default). Almost always there's a relevant SO question on the first positions.

Is it me misusing the search engine, or is someone else getting the impression something is not quite right with it? It doesn't seem to rank according to views, votes or duplicates linking to it.

**EDIT**

I asked this after seeing a question on SO ask for this very same subject. Don't know if it's related to the engine `/search?` uses, but when asking a new question with these words, that question in particular doesn't even appear. This could be possibly letting obvious duplicates get asked (it's also true that if the asker didn't bother to google his question, he is also unlikely to be bothered looking for it in a list with *Questions that may already have your answer*).