GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 140258
RFE: Allow gnome-search-tool to use the updatedb cache
Last modified: 2009-08-15 18:40:50 UTC
[Migrated from https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=120688] It would be beneficial to have an option in gnome-search-tool to use the cached updatedb information if available. This would allow a much quicker response for the files that were already cached. I normally use `locate` because gnome-search-tool takes several orders of magnitude longer to complete. From a usability stand-point the option should be on the front page so that it would be easy to switch between the two.
Gnome-search-tool already uses the locate command for searches where appropriate; but, because the results from locate are often out of date, its use is limited. For example, searches in the user's home directory do not use the locate command. We want the results to be accurate and up-to-date when a user is searching for their files. On the other hand, if a user searches at the root level (/) we will use the locate command by default. I don't agree that an option for quick searches is appropriate on the front panel. I want the search tool's interface to remain simple. Other ideas?
What about putting it under Show more options? How about using locate first, and appending matches with <found via locate> (or something similar)?
The use of 'locate' is optional. It doesn't really belong with a fixed set of options like those listed under "show more options". The append idea would cause more problems than it would solve. First, the user would be confused by "found via locate". Second, the results would contain duplicate items. Third, the total search time would actually increase.
The locate command has not been reliable enough for many users. I am going to mark this bug as WONTFIX. A better long term solution for quicker search results would be the Medusa and Storage projects.