Stored queries read the index, and text searches read the files

cscope answers its symbol, definition, call, file, includer and assignment searches from its database, and reads the source files again for text and regular-expression searches.

Decision

Ripscope divides the query fields the same way. Fields 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 are answered from the index revision. Fields 4, 5 and 6 read the current contents of the indexed files, limited to the indexed file list, even when -d skips the refresh. In the line protocol field 5, cscope’s “change this text”, is a text search, as in cscope.

Consequences

• Stored queries keep working after source files are deleted, so the index stores each line’s displayed text.
• A text search sees a file as it is now, which can differ from the stored facts of the last refresh.

Considered options

• Answer text searches from the index. The index would need a full copy of every source, and a text search would show the text of the last refresh instead of the file as it is.