Which is the best desktop search for programmers?

Question

Can anyone recommend a desktop search product that specifically targets the development community? I know that Google Desktop Search, Copernic Desktop Search and Windows Search can all search through source code (PHP, C#, VB, C++, SQL, etc) with some tweaking. However none seem to handle programming fundamentals very well (like .NET namespaces).

Update: Ideally I'm looking for a product that has some of the following features (if one even exists)

• Search for code targeting a specific Java/.NET Framework version
• Written in a specific language (Java, Ruby, etc)
• Search for text where the method signature is like xxx
• Search against a source repository (including history) like Subversion

Answer 1

I have tried them all.

At the time I've tested them, only Copernic Desktop Search allowed me to search for partial matches. Windows Search and Google Desktop Search only returned exact matches.

Copernic is the tool I am still using on a daily basis today.

Note: I am using version 3.0.0(Build 81). AFAIK, this is the last free version that allows you to index your e-mails stored on an exchange server.

Answer 2

By installing Cygwin and findutils (within Cygwin), you can updatedb and then locate FILENAME_PATTERN. You can then grep to get what you are looking for.

Answer 3

ack-grep is my current swiss-army knife. Doesn't do everything you're looking for, but it's all I (personally) find I need...

Answer 4

I use Total Commander to search inside text files but that covers only 2 points you needed:
Written in a specific language (Java, Ruby, etc)
Search for text where the method signature is like xxx

You can use RegEx for search, filter by file extension/name, search inside archive files etc.

try it out

EDIT

Total Commander on SVN:
Comparing and Synchronizing Subversion Folders With Total Commander
Using Total Commander with Subversion
TortoiseSVN with Total Commander

Answer 5

This is actually a good idea for a new Windows search extender in Windows 7 :)

Answer 6

I'm using grepWin (http://tools.tortoisesvn.net/grepWin) after I tried almost every other search tool available. Do not confuse grepWin with Windows Grep. grepWin is free-of-charge.

It's the perfect search tool for my programming needs but I'd rather not use it for other searches, because when it comes to searching very quickly or searching other specialized file types than source code, more suitable tools are available.

Answer 7

I prefer the find/updatedb. Never had a problem with it.

Cheer.

Answer 8

The language aware search functions in Eclipse are amazing for Java projects (I can't really speak for its support for other languages). I never need to use external search tools.

Answer 9

On a Windows machine I'd go with the Cygwin/find/grep bundle. In other words, Cygwin makes Windows usable ;)

Answer 10

Coppernic desktop search works best for me.

Answer 11

Have you tried Google Desktop search?