diff --git a/rslib/src/search/mod.rs b/rslib/src/search/mod.rs
index b93e263bb..2732ec547 100644
--- a/rslib/src/search/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/search/mod.rs
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 mod parser;
+mod searcher;
diff --git a/rslib/src/search/searcher.rs b/rslib/src/search/searcher.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e0020af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/search/searcher.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+use super::parser::{Node, PropertyKind, SearchNode, StateKind};
+use crate::{collection::RequestContext, types::ObjID};
+use rusqlite::types::ToSqlOutput;
+use std::fmt::Write;
+
+struct SearchContext<'a> {
+    ctx: &'a mut RequestContext<'a>,
+    sql: String,
+    args: Vec<ToSqlOutput<'a>>,
+}
+
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn node_to_sql<'a>(
+    ctx: &'a mut RequestContext<'a>,
+    node: &'a Node,
+) -> (String, Vec<ToSqlOutput<'a>>) {
+    let sql = String::new();
+    let args = vec![];
+    let mut sctx = SearchContext { ctx, sql, args };
+    write_node_to_sql(&mut sctx, node);
+    (sctx.sql, sctx.args)
+}
+
+fn write_node_to_sql(ctx: &mut SearchContext, node: &Node) {
+    match node {
+        Node::And => write!(ctx.sql, " and ").unwrap(),
+        Node::Or => write!(ctx.sql, " or ").unwrap(),
+        Node::Not(node) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "not ").unwrap();
+            write_node_to_sql(ctx, node);
+        }
+        Node::Group(nodes) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "(").unwrap();
+            for node in nodes {
+                write_node_to_sql(ctx, node);
+            }
+            write!(ctx.sql, ")").unwrap();
+        }
+        Node::Search(search) => write_search_node_to_sql(ctx, search),
+    }
+}
+
+fn write_search_node_to_sql(ctx: &mut SearchContext, node: &SearchNode) {
+    match node {
+        SearchNode::UnqualifiedText(text) => write_unqualified(ctx, text),
+        SearchNode::SingleField { field, text } => {
+            write_single_field(ctx, field.as_ref(), text.as_ref())
+        }
+        SearchNode::AddedInDays(days) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "c.id > {}", days).unwrap();
+        }
+        SearchNode::CardTemplate(template) => write_template(ctx, template.as_ref()),
+        SearchNode::Deck(deck) => write_deck(ctx, deck.as_ref()),
+        SearchNode::NoteTypeID(ntid) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "n.mid = {}", ntid).unwrap();
+        }
+        SearchNode::NoteType(notetype) => write_note_type(ctx, notetype.as_ref()),
+        SearchNode::Rated { days, ease } => write_rated(ctx, days, ease),
+        SearchNode::Tag(tag) => write_tag(ctx, tag),
+        SearchNode::Duplicates { note_type_id, text } => write_dupes(ctx, note_type_id, text),
+        SearchNode::State(state) => write_state(ctx, state),
+        SearchNode::Flag(flag) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "(c.flags & 7) == {}", flag).unwrap();
+        }
+        SearchNode::NoteIDs(nids) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "n.id in ({})", nids).unwrap();
+        }
+        SearchNode::CardIDs(cids) => {
+            write!(ctx.sql, "c.id in ({})", cids).unwrap();
+        }
+        SearchNode::Property { operator, kind } => write_prop(ctx, operator, kind),
+    }
+}
+
+fn write_unqualified(ctx: &mut SearchContext, text: &str) {
+    // implicitly wrap in %
+    let text = format!("%{}%", text);
+    write!(
+        ctx.sql,
+        "(n.sfld like ? escape '\\' or n.flds like ? escape '\\')"
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    ctx.args.push(text.clone().into());
+    ctx.args.push(text.into());
+}
+
+fn write_tag(ctx: &mut SearchContext, text: &str) {
+    if text == "none" {
+        write!(ctx.sql, "n.tags = ''").unwrap();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let tag = format!(" %{}% ", text.replace('*', "%"));
+    write!(ctx.sql, "n.tags like ?").unwrap();
+    ctx.args.push(tag.into());
+}
+
+// fixme: need day cutoff
+fn write_rated(ctx: &mut SearchContext, days: &u32, ease: &Option<u8>) {}
+
+// fixme: need current day
+fn write_prop(ctx: &mut SearchContext, op: &str, kind: &PropertyKind) {}
+
+// fixme: need db
+fn write_dupes(ctx: &mut SearchContext, ntid: &ObjID, text: &str) {}
+
+// fixme: need cutoff & current day
+fn write_state(ctx: &mut SearchContext, state: &StateKind) {}
+
+// fixme: need deck manager
+fn write_deck(ctx: &mut SearchContext, deck: &str) {}
+
+// fixme: need note type manager
+fn write_template(ctx: &mut SearchContext, template: &str) {}
+
+// fixme: need note type manager
+fn write_note_type(ctx: &mut SearchContext, notetype: &str) {}
+
+// fixme: need note type manager
+fn write_single_field(ctx: &mut SearchContext, field: &str, val: &str) {}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::super::parser::parse;
+    use super::*;
+
+    // parse
+    fn p(search: &str) -> Node {
+        Node::Group(parse(search).unwrap())
+    }
+
+    // get sql
+    // fn s<'a>(n: &'a Node) -> (String, Vec<ToSqlOutput<'a>>) {
+    //     node_to_sql(n)
+    // }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn tosql() -> Result<(), String> {
+        // assert_eq!(s(&p("added:1")), ("(c.id > 1)".into(), vec![]));
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}