Re: Thumbnail cleanup UI patch (bug 150483)

[Ryan McDougall <NQG24419 nifty com>]

On Wed, 2005-27-04 at 10:02 +0200, Jaap Haitsma wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=150483
> >
> > Since we're at the start of a development cycle, perhaps now is a good
> > time to consider the issue of accumulation of thumbnail files consuming
> > disk space indefinitely.  At present, when a thumbnailed file is
> > deleted, its thumbnail file in ~/.thumbnails lingers.  This can lead  to
> > consumption of substantial wasted space, particularly for those who
> > frequently handle large numbers of images.
> >
> > On this bug, I propose and implement a user interface that provides two
> > functions to help with this problem:
> >       * "Empty Thumbnail Cache" deletes all thumbnails
> >       * "Clean Up Thumbnail Cache" deletes only those thumbnails that
> >         are for files that no longer exist.
> >
> > These are made available as buttons in the nautilus File Management
> > Preferences dialog.  Although I recognise that this is not an incredibly
> > elegant way of dealing with the problem, it at least provides some
> > respite, and a definite improvement over the present situation (which
> > demands that the user know about ~/.thumbnails).
> >
> > Some other possible mechanisms for dealing with this problem that others
> > may be interested in:
> >       * Some kind of indication to the user when they're low on disk
> >         space, the thumbnail cleanup being presented as one way of
> >         freeing space.
> >       * The automatic background removal of redundant thumbnails.  This
> >         involves opening thousands of pngs, so would have to be
> >         implemented very delicately to avoid impacting performance.
> >       * Intelligent removal of thumbnails by nautilus upon
> >         deletion/moving of files.
> >
> Wouldn't it be handier too automatically do a cleanup by looking at the
> time the thumbnail was accessed the last time. E.g. if a thumbnail hasn't
> been accessed for 6 months you delete it.
> 
> Jaap
> 

I wonder, is it too inefficient to move/delete the thumbnail when the
picture is move/deleted? In the case of a large move I can see that
moving thumbnails would become a speed bump, but in that case if we just
delete them and regenerate them again we'd be no worse off than we are
now.

ps. I don't think Alexander minds discussing bugs on the mailing list,
but if you want your comments on a filed bug to be remembered, it should
be made in bugzilla.

Cheers, 
Ryan