Close Search

Recoll [1] is free software for Linux and Windows systems that adds a local search engine to your desktop or local network. And if you think that desktop search engines don't make sense in this age of cloud computing, I beg to disagree!

Look inside any school, NGO, small/medium enterprise, or individual computer used for more than a few years: Almost always, you will find big archives of mostly textual content that will never be uploaded in the cloud or otherwise exposed to an online search engine. Sometimes the reason is mere lack of time, bandwidth, or money. Sometimes it is privacy. Sometimes the reason is easier compliance with regulations like the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) [2]. In all cases, deploying local search capability could make thousands and thousands of files much more useful for their owners.

Recoll is an excellent answer to the need for a local search engine. The Recoll search tool offers flexible interfaces, good documentation, and easy installation. Thanks to a relatively simple search language, Recoll can analyze and index text inside all the most common document formats, even when those documents are "hidden" inside other files (for example, an OpenDocument file zipped and attached to an email message). In most cases, you can preview or open the files found with your search by just clicking on them inside the Recoll window.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Recoll

    Whether you’re looking for a letter to the Internal Revenue Service or an email from an online trader, the Recoll desktop search machine will help you find it with just a few mouse clicks.

  • Recoll

    KDE's unofficial search engine may be the most usable choice of all.

  • FSearch

    In a crowded field of search applications, FSearch offers many interesting functions for quickly searching files and folders, with more promised in the future.

  • FOSSPicks

    Nate explores the top FOSS including the latest Xfce desktop, an audio testing tool, a turn-based tank game, and an app for securely sharing secret messages and files.

  • Paperwork Document Manager

    Paperwork was developed to manage the paperless office – a dream as old as desktop PCs.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News