Open Source Desktop Search Tool Recoll

December 13, 2022

Anyone searching for an alternative desktop search option might consider Recoll, an open source tool based on the Xapian search engine library. The latest version, 1.33.3, was released just recently. The landing page specifies:

“Recoll finds documents based on their contents as well as their file names.

Versions are available for Linux, MS Windows and Mac OS X.

It can search most document formats. You may need external applications for text extraction.

It can reach any storage place: files, archive members, email attachments, transparently handling decompression.

One click will open the document inside a native editor or display an even quicker text preview.

A Web front-end with preview and download features can replace or supplement the GUI for remote use.

The software is free on Linux, open source, and licensed under the GPL. Detailed features and application requirements for supported document types.”

Recoll began as a tool to augment the search functionality of Linux’ desktop environment, a familiar pain point to users of that open source OS. Since it has expanded to Windows and Mac, users across the OS spectrum can try Recoll. Check it out, dear reader, if you crave a different desktop search solution.

Cynthia Murrell, December 13, 2022

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under News, Search

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.