[xubuntu-users] update-apt-xapian-index keeps crashing

[sktsee]

On Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:02:27 -0800, MR ZenWiz wrote:

> I don't even know what this is, why I have it or what it does (other
> than crash): update-apt-xapian-index.
> 
> I'm running a fresh install of Xubuntu 12.04.2 and this is a new one I
> haven't seen before.
> 
> What is this thing? Do I need it?  How can I kill it?  Apt-cache was
> not terribly informative....
> 
> Thanks.
> 

Ubuntu Software Center needs it, I think. It only has a "Recommended" 
dependency, but the last time I used SC one or two releases ago, not 
having apt-xapian-index installed meant that no packages showed up under 
the software categories. In Synaptic, the "Quick Search" function 
utilizes the xapian database, though the regular Search works just fine 
without it. Personally, I uninstalled it because I got tired of the 
stupid thing rebuilding the whole database after every single add/remove 
package operation in Synaptic. On low powered machines its just too I/O 
and CPU intensive to be of much use for the small benefit of having a 
slightly more expanded package search capability.

-- 
sktsee