From 5e07604f4b6f4abb86375d25cfbb8836e7ce853e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Malin Freeborn <malinfreeborn@posteo.net>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:05:36 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] update mlocate to plocate

---
 basics/locating.md | 43 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------
 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)

diff --git a/basics/locating.md b/basics/locating.md
index 984faf5..c146a9f 100644
--- a/basics/locating.md
+++ b/basics/locating.md
@@ -22,20 +22,41 @@ Also `which` shows where a binary file (the program) is,
 which cmus
 ```
 
-# Quick Search for Files
+# Search Instantly with `plocate`
 
-You'll need to set up `locate` for this by installing `mlocate`.
-`mlocate` needs a list of all files on the machine, so run:
+You can search every file on the computer instantly by installing `plocate`.
+
+Once installed, run `sudo updatedb` to create the database of (nearly) every file on the computer.
+
+Check how big the database is:
 
 ```bash
+du -h /var/lib/plocate/plocate.db
+```
+
+Once you have the database, you can find nearly any file instantly.
+
+- Search for gifs: `locate .gif`
+- Search for gifs in the `/usr/` directory: `locate /usr/ .gif`
+- Search for jpg images with 'dog' or 'Dog' in the name: `locate -i dog jpg`
+- Search for videos: `plocate --regex '.mp4$|.mkv$|.wmv$|.webm$|.mov$|.avi$'`
+
+For best results, run `updatedb` regularly, perhaps in [crontab](../system/cron.md).
+
+## Search More Places
+
+`plocate` will not search `/tmp/`, because nobody cares about those files, and won't search inside `/mnt/`, because that's where USB sticks get mounted, so the files keep changing as USB sticks come and go.
+
+Change where `plocate` searches by editing the configuration file at `/etc/updatedb.conf`.
+
+By default, the `/mnt` directory is 'pruned' from the database.
+So if you want to search `/mnt` for videos, remove the word `/mnt` from the configuration file.
+
+
+```bash
+cat /etc/updatedb.conf
+sudo sed 's#/mnt/##' /etc/updatedb.conf
 sudo updatedb
+plocate --regex '.mp4$|.mkv$|.wmv$|.webm$|.mov$|.avi$'
 ```
 
-Then to find a file called 'my-cats.jpg', run:
-
-```bash
-locate cats
-```
-
-For best results, run `updatedb` regularly, perhaps in crontab.
-