[opensuse-kde] Proposed behavioral change for Baloo indexing
The Baloo indexer shipped with Plasma does its job in two passes: first the file names are indexed (fast) then metadata and content are extracted (slow). This second pass can be problematic and it's highly user-dependent, because the various metadata extractors have varying degrees of efficiency. When there is a problem with metadata extraction, it's often the cause of the high CPU usage and disk I/O reported. One proposal we had in IRC was to change the behavior of the indexer (which is enabled by default): switch it to "basic indexing" which only indexes the names and not the metadata, as a solution for the above problem. There's a (config-only) option that does the job. Due to a bug it was not possible to change that configuration and it was never saved to disk. We also plan to add a checkbox to toggle the option on and off in the configuration dialog (System Settings > Search) for those who use metadata search. However it's a behavioral change: anyone who uses the default configuration will be affected by this. Hence this post to gather feedback. Should we do this, or not? NOTE: This is about the *default*. If you have disabled Baloo nothing will happen. -- Luca Beltrame - KDE Forums team GPG key ID: A29D259B
[ Comments below, in-line ] On Sat, 08 Apr 2017 15:15:19 +0200, Luca Beltrame wrote:
[ trimmed ]
However it's a behavioral change: anyone who uses the default configuration will be affected by this. Hence this post to gather feedback. Should we do this, or not?
Hi Luca, I don't use Baloo so my point below may be off the mark. I'd go with the recommendation of disabling 'metadata and content extraction' Ideally, when performing a Baloo search, it would be great to provide a message to the user that 'metadata and content extraction' is not enabled. They can check a box to 'never see this message box' again. Cheers, -- Pablo Sanchez - Blueoak Database Engineering, Inc Ph: 819.459.1926 iNum: 883.5100.0990.1054 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-kde+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-kde+owner@opensuse.org
On samedi, 8 avril 2017 15.36:09 h CEST Pablo Sanchez wrote:
[ Comments below, in-line ]
On Sat, 08 Apr 2017 15:15:19 +0200, Luca Beltrame wrote:
[ trimmed ]
However it's a behavioral change: anyone who uses the default configuration will be affected by this. Hence this post to gather feedback. Should we do this, or not?
Hi Luca,
I don't use Baloo so my point below may be off the mark.
I'd go with the recommendation of disabling 'metadata and content extraction'
Ideally, when performing a Baloo search, it would be great to provide a message to the user that 'metadata and content extraction' is not enabled. They can check a box to 'never see this message box' again.
Cheers, -- Pablo Sanchez - Blueoak Database Engineering, Inc Ph: 819.459.1926 iNum: 883.5100.0990.1054
Making baloo light on first usage, so newcomer get impressed is on my POV the right decision to take. If the checkbox in systemsettings is there and work as expected once checked cool (also allowing a prefered time range like during the night would be a nice option). As Pablo idea is really top notch, a warning on you're not getting metadata and content results fix it message would really cover all style of usage. Now Lucas you didn't say a word for those who have already indexed filenames and content, with the default changes, what will happen ? Should I goes to systemsettings and reactivate the metadata, content indexation ? Thanks for taking care of us ;-) -- Bruno Friedmann Ioda-Net Sàrl www.ioda-net.ch Bareos Partner, openSUSE Member, fsfe fellowship GPG KEY : D5C9B751C4653227 irc: tigerfoot -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-kde+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-kde+owner@opensuse.org
In data sabato 8 aprile 2017 17:41:09 CEST, Bruno Friedmann ha scritto:
Now Lucas you didn't say a word for those who have already indexed filenames and content, with the default changes, what will happen ?
From what I know, *existing* stuff should be preserved. Newer files would not get their metadata indexed, of course.
Should I goes to systemsettings and reactivate the metadata, content indexation ?
This would only affect new files: I just need to check if any changes in the KCM would wipe the index and restart from scratch (I know this happens if you change folders to get indexed, because it's cheaper to start from scratch than look through all the index to remove entries). -- Luca Beltrame - KDE Forums team GPG key ID: A29D259B
Op 08-04-17 om 15:15 schreef Luca Beltrame:
The Baloo indexer shipped with Plasma does its job in two passes: first the file names are indexed (fast) then metadata and content are extracted (slow).
This second pass can be problematic and it's highly user-dependent, because the various metadata extractors have varying degrees of efficiency. When there is a problem with metadata extraction, it's often the cause of the high CPU usage and disk I/O reported.
One proposal we had in IRC was to change the behavior of the indexer (which is enabled by default): switch it to "basic indexing" which only indexes the names and not the metadata, as a solution for the above problem. There's a (config-only) option that does the job.
Due to a bug it was not possible to change that configuration and it was never saved to disk. We also plan to add a checkbox to toggle the option on and off in the configuration dialog (System Settings > Search) for those who use metadata search.
However it's a behavioral change: anyone who uses the default configuration will be affected by this. Hence this post to gather feedback. Should we do this, or not?
NOTE: This is about the *default*. If you have disabled Baloo nothing will happen.
For me the metadata extraction never really worked without problems, so I've disabled baloo. I would welcome having file indexing only and that is also the only part I use and need. I did not know there was a config option, so having a checkbox is an improvement. (Or I knew and forgot again). Changing the default would, in my opinion, depend on the question whether someone then looses the metadata index. Does it need to be done again after reenabling through the checkbox and how much time will that indexing take? If it needs to be recreated and it takes a lot of time (because someone has a lot of files), I would advise against a change. Thanks, Cor -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-kde+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-kde+owner@opensuse.org
Luca Beltrame writes:
One proposal we had in IRC was to change the behavior of the indexer (which is enabled by default): switch it to "basic indexing" which only indexes the names and not the metadata, as a solution for the above problem. There's a (config-only) option that does the job.
This or any other indexer should be off by default. Then, when a user uses a search function that needs the index, ask about activating it. Regards, Achim. -- +<[Q+ Matrix-12 WAVE#46+305 Neuron microQkb Andromeda XTk Blofeld]>+ Wavetables for the Terratec KOMPLEXER: http://Synth.Stromeko.net/Downloads.html#KomplexerWaves -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-kde+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-kde+owner@opensuse.org
Il 8 aprile 2017 18:36:52 CEST, Achim Gratz
Luca Beltrame writes:
This or any other indexer should be off by default. Then, when a user uses a search function that needs the index, ask about activating it.
This is not what this discussion is about. -- Luca Beltrame GPG key ID: 6E1A4E79 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-kde+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-kde+owner@opensuse.org
participants (5)
-
Achim Gratz -
Bruno Friedmann -
Cor Blom -
Luca Beltrame -
Pablo Sanchez