shell cmd: locate                   rev 1 jun 2023

>> info | usages: update db | get basename | limit paths to search |
    regex | ignore case 
>> resources

....................................................... 
> Info

  * Faster than `find` because it searches its database.

  * May not return all if something has been added or
      deleted recently, before the dabase got updated.

  * Different distributions may have different implementations installed: 
       mlocate - merging locate
       slocate - secure locate
       plocate - ? locate 
         Replacement for mlocate, except 
         "when multiple strings are searched, plocate returns only
         the files that match all the search strings, rather than
         any file that matches even one string."
         and 
         "compatible with systemd and SELinux."
     with slightly different usages.
     $ man locate
     to see what your options are.

.......................................................
> update the locate database:

  * it runs periodically by itself, usually every 24 hr.

  * You can update it with 
    $ sudo updatedb


.........................
> get only the basename:
  i.e., exclude any results that have the search term
  in the path, but not in the base file/directory name

  # -b, --basename
  $ locate -b '/Thisthing'

  $ locate '*/Thisthing'

  $ locate Thisthing | grep '/Thisthing$'

  More: 
    - https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/40015/how-can-i-use-locate-only-for-a-directory
      Lots of examples.
      apr 2012 - jun 2022, as of jun 2023

    - https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/39528/restrict-search-of-locate-to-specific-directories
      may 2012 - nov 2021, as of jun 2023


......................... 
> limit paths to search 

  Looks like you can limit what paths it searches in the updatedb,
  but it's a hassle to limit in the results.
  $ man updatedb
     PRUNE_BIND_MOUNTS, PRUNEFS, PRUNENAMES  and  PRUNEPATHS  variables,
     documented in detail in updatedb.conf(5).

  * How to add specific directories to "updatedb" (locate) search path?
      https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/151700/how-to-add-specific-directories-to-updatedb-locate-search-path
      aug 2014-may 2020, as of jun 2023

.........................
> regular expressions:

  plocate -r  uses regex - but then it's as slow as just using find.



.........................
> ignore case:

  $ locate -i


.......................................................
> Resources:

  * Locate command in linux
      https://linuxize.com/post/locate-command-in-linux/
      Good basic explanation.
      pub 19 nov 2020

  * 10 locate command examples in Linux [Cheat Sheet]
      https://www.golinuxcloud.com/locate-command-in-linux/
      date?


  * Command line - plocate
      https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2022/254/Location-location-location
      pub 2022

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