[9fans] searchfs

[9fans] searchfs

[Daniel Lyons]

I googled around and haven't found anything, but I notice there is a  
file /sys/src/cmd/aux/searchfs.c, and a corresponding binary aux/ 
searchfs. The code doesn't seem to explain what it does very well but  
it piqued my curiosity.

What's this do and how is it intended to be used? I don't know exactly  
what it wants for a database; I tried using /lib/words and it didn't  
blow up but I'm not sure that's what it needs. I found the /search  
file will accept strings like 'search=word' but it doesn't seem to  
have an effect in the filesystem, nor does reading from it produce  
anything.

Any pointers on how to use this? Or is it defunct or some kind of dead  
end?

Thanks,

—
Daniel Lyons

Re: [9fans] searchfs

[erik quanstrom]

On Thu Aug  6 04:50:48 EDT 2009, fusion@storytotell.org wrote:
> I googled around and haven't found anything, but I notice there is a
> file /sys/src/cmd/aux/searchfs.c, and a corresponding binary aux/
> searchfs. The code doesn't seem to explain what it does very well but
> it piqued my curiosity.
>
> What's this do and how is it intended to be used? I don't know exactly
> what it wants for a database; I tried using /lib/words and it didn't
> blow up but I'm not sure that's what it needs. I found the /search
> file will accept strings like 'search=word' but it doesn't seem to
> have an effect in the filesystem, nor does reading from it produce
> anything.
>
> Any pointers on how to use this? Or is it defunct or some kind of dead
> end?

you need to read and write the same file descriptor.  (i'm
not sure why i would use this instead of grep, even for http
queries.)  <>[fd] is rc syntax for opening a file for r/w.
here's an example of opening fd 3 rw, then sending the
query into that fd and reading the results back:

; aux/searchfs -m /n/search /lib/words
; cd /n/search
; <>[3] search {echo -n 'search=eat' >[1=3]; cat <[0=3]}
amphitheater
anteater
[...]

- erik

Re: [9fans] searchfs

[Russ Cox]

> you need to read and write the same file descriptor.  (i'm
> not sure why i would use this instead of grep, even for http
> queries.)  <>[fd] is rc syntax for opening a file for r/w.
> here's an example of opening fd 3 rw, then sending the
> query into that fd and reading the results back:

for interactive playing, it is easier to use

% aux/rdwr /n/search/search
> search=eat&
...

though maybe the trailing newline would cause trouble.

see /sys/src/cmd/ip/httpd/netlib_find.c for a real client.

russ