+[[!img notmuch-logo.png alt="Notmuch logo" class="left"]]
# Optimize notmuch's performance
[[!toc levels=2]]
+## Use of ecryptfs slows notmuch down.
+
+I noticed that my `notmuch new` was really slow (several minutes) for
+less then 20 new emails (around 20K in my database).
+
+The performance tests in the notmuch source didn't show any real
+issue, even on a non-encrypted ext4 fs.
+
+After investigation and running different tests, a switch to a
+LUKS-btrfs based filesystem to replace the ext4-ecryptfs resolved the
+issue. It now takes some seconds to index hundreds of messages.
+
## Xapian 1.2.x database format: chert vs. flint
Xapian 1.2 (in contrast to 1.0.x) uses a new database format called
Backup your notmuch tags:
$ cd
- $ notmuch dump notmuch-dump-b4chert
+ $ notmuch dump --output=notmuch-dump-b4chert
Move away your old database:
Restore your tags:
- $ notmuch restore notmuch-dump-b4chert
+ $ notmuch restore --input=notmuch-dump-b4chert
Check whether you are on chert now:
Backup your database:
$ cd
- $ notmuch dump notmuch-dump-b4compact
+ $ notmuch dump --output=notmuch-dump-b4compact
Compact it:
* [Sebastian Spaeth](http://notmuchmail.org/pipermail/notmuch/2011/004048.html)
* [Pieter Praet](http://notmuchmail.org/pipermail/notmuch/2011/004175.html)
-
-
-## Tagging: use filters!
-
-Instead of just:
-
- $ notmuch tag +foo
-
-use:
-
- $ notmuch tag +foo -- not tag:foo
-
-See the ongoing discussion:
-
-http://notmuchmail.org/pipermail/notmuch/2011/004197.html