feat(search): add path: substring filter

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## Unreleased
+- Add `path:` filter for substring matching against an item's full absolute path. Multiple `path:` filters combine with AND (e.g. `main.js path:Downloads path:repos`).
+
 ## 0.1.23 — 2026-03-25
 - Reduce power consumption by expanding the default ignored paths to cover more macOS cache, log, metadata, and runtime directories.
 - Further reduce background work by making the filesystem event watcher honor ignored paths.

Cargo.toml

@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ members = [
   "cardinal-syntax",
   "search-cancel",
   "slab-mmap",
+  "e2e-tests",
 ]
 exclude = ["cardinal"]

cardinal-syntax/src/lib.rs

@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ fn reorder_by_priority(parts: &mut Vec<Expr>) {
     let priority = |expr: &Expr| -> u8 {
         match expr {
             Expr::Term(Term::Filter(filter)) => match filter.kind {
-                FilterKind::InFolder | FilterKind::Parent => 0,
+                FilterKind::InFolder | FilterKind::Parent | FilterKind::Path => 0,
                 FilterKind::Tag => 3,
                 _ => 2,
             },
@@ -355,6 +355,15 @@ pub enum FilterKind {
     /// assert!(matches!(filter.kind, FilterKind::InFolder));
     /// ```
     InFolder,
+    /// Restrict to items whose full path contains the argument as a substring
+    /// (`path:`). Multiple `path:` filters combine with AND, each narrowing the
+    /// result set further. Matching respects the UI case-sensitivity toggle.
+    /// ```
+    /// use cardinal_syntax::{parse_query, Expr, Term, FilterKind};
+    /// let Expr::Term(Term::Filter(filter)) = parse_query("path:repos").unwrap().expr else { panic!() };
+    /// assert!(matches!(filter.kind, FilterKind::Path));
+    /// ```
+    Path,
     /// Limit to the folder itself (`nosubfolders:`).
     /// ```
     /// use cardinal_syntax::{parse_query, Expr, Term, FilterKind};
@@ -551,6 +560,7 @@ impl FilterKind {
             "dr" | "daterun" => FilterKind::DateRun,
             "parent" => FilterKind::Parent,
             "infolder" | "in" => FilterKind::InFolder,
+            "path" => FilterKind::Path,
             "nosubfolders" => FilterKind::NoSubfolders,
             "child" => FilterKind::Child,
             "attrib" => FilterKind::Attribute,

cardinal-syntax/tests/filter_kinds_coverage.rs

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ fn maps_known_filter_names() {
         ("daterun", FilterKind::DateRun),
         ("parent", FilterKind::Parent),
         ("infolder", FilterKind::InFolder),
+        ("path", FilterKind::Path),
         ("nosubfolders", FilterKind::NoSubfolders),
         ("child", FilterKind::Child),
         ("attrib", FilterKind::Attribute),

cardinal/src-tauri/src/background.rs

@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 use rayon::spawn;
 use search_cache::{
-    HandleFSEError, SearchCache, SearchOptions, SearchResultNode, SlabIndex, WalkData,
+    HandleFSEError, SearchCache, SearchOptions, SearchOutcome, SearchResultNode, SlabIndex,
+    WalkData,
 };
 use search_cancel::CancellationToken;
 use serde::Serialize;
@@ -30,6 +31,9 @@ pub struct StatusBarUpdate {
     pub scanned_files: usize,
     pub processed_events: usize,
     pub rescan_errors: usize,
+    /// Human-readable status message (e.g. "Walking filesystem…", "Indexing…").
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub status_message: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Clone)]
@@ -58,6 +62,7 @@ pub fn reset_status_bar(app_handle: &AppHandle) {
                 scanned_files: 0,
                 processed_events: 0,
                 rescan_errors: 0,
+                status_message: None,
             },
         )
         .unwrap();
@@ -68,6 +73,22 @@ pub fn emit_status_bar_update(
     scanned_files: usize,
     processed_events: usize,
     rescan_errors: usize,
+) {
+    emit_status_bar_update_with_message(
+        app_handle,
+        scanned_files,
+        processed_events,
+        rescan_errors,
+        None,
+    );
+}
+
+pub fn emit_status_bar_update_with_message(
+    app_handle: &AppHandle,
+    scanned_files: usize,
+    processed_events: usize,
+    rescan_errors: usize,
+    status_message: Option<&str>,
 ) {
     static LAST_EMIT: Lazy<Mutex<Instant>> =
         Lazy::new(|| Mutex::new(Instant::now() - Duration::from_secs(1)));
@@ -84,6 +105,7 @@ pub fn emit_status_bar_update(
                     scanned_files,
                     processed_events,
                     rescan_errors,
+                    status_message: status_message.map(|s| s.to_string()),
                 },
             )
             .unwrap();
@@ -329,6 +351,28 @@ pub fn run_background_event_loop(
     let flush_ticker = crossbeam_channel::tick(Duration::from_secs(10));
 
     loop {
+        // Prioritize search requests over FS event processing so the UI
+        // stays responsive even when there's a large FS event backlog.
+        // Drain all pending search jobs, keeping only the latest (older
+        // ones are already cancelled by CancellationToken::new_search()).
+        if let Ok(mut latest_job) = search_rx.try_recv() {
+            while let Ok(newer) = search_rx.try_recv() {
+                // Send cancelled result for the superseded job.
+                let _ = latest_job.result_tx.send(Ok(SearchOutcome::cancelled()));
+                latest_job = newer;
+            }
+            let SearchJob {
+                query,
+                options,
+                cancellation_token,
+                result_tx,
+            } = latest_job;
+            let opts = SearchOptions::from(options);
+            let payload = cache.search_query_with_options(query, opts, cancellation_token);
+            result_tx.send(payload).expect("Failed to send result");
+            continue;
+        }
+
         crossbeam_channel::select! {
             recv(finish_rx) -> tx => {
                 let tx = tx.expect("Finish channel closed");
@@ -435,11 +479,8 @@ pub(crate) fn build_search_cache(
     std::thread::scope(|s| {
         s.spawn(|| {
             while !walking_done.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
-                let dirs = walk_data.num_dirs.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
-                let files = walk_data.num_files.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
-                let total = dirs + files;
-                emit_status_bar_update(app_handle, total, 0, 0);
-                std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100));
+                emit_status_bar_update_with_message(app_handle, 0, 0, 0, Some("Indexing…"));
+                std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500));
             }
         });
         let cache = SearchCache::walk_fs_with_walk_data(&walk_data, &APP_QUIT);
@@ -483,11 +524,8 @@ fn perform_rescan(
     let stopped = std::thread::scope(|s| {
         s.spawn(|| {
             while !walking_done.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
-                let dirs = walk_data.num_dirs.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
-                let files = walk_data.num_files.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
-                let total = dirs + files;
-                emit_status_bar_update(app_handle, total, 0, 0);
-                std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100));
+                emit_status_bar_update_with_message(app_handle, 0, 0, 0, Some("Indexing…"));
+                std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500));
             }
         });
         // If rescan is cancelled, we have nothing to do

cardinal/src/App.tsx

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ function App() {
     scannedFiles,
     processedEvents,
     rescanErrors,
+    statusMessage,
     currentQuery,
     currentDirectoryQuery,
     highlightTerms,
@@ -439,6 +440,7 @@ function App() {
           onTabChange={onTabChange}
           onRequestRescan={requestRescan}
           rescanErrorCount={rescanErrors}
+          statusMessage={statusMessage}
         />
       </main>
       <PreferencesOverlay

cardinal/src/components/StatusBar.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type StatusBarProps = {
   onTabChange: (tab: StatusTabKey) => void;
   onRequestRescan: () => void;
   rescanErrorCount: number;
+  statusMessage: string | null;
 };
 
 const TABS: StatusTabKey[] = ['files', 'events'];
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ const StatusBar = ({
   onTabChange,
   onRequestRescan,
   rescanErrorCount,
+  statusMessage,
 }: StatusBarProps): React.JSX.Element => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const tabsRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ const StatusBar = ({
           >
             {lifecycleMeta.icon}
           </span>
-          <span className="status-text">{lifecycleLabel}</span>
+          <span className="status-text">{statusMessage ?? lifecycleLabel}</span>
         </div>
         <div
           ref={tabsRef}

cardinal/src/hooks/__tests__/useAppWindowListeners.test.ts

@@ -25,7 +25,12 @@ type HookProps = {
   activeTab: 'files' | 'events';
   searchInputRef: RefObject<HTMLInputElement>;
   focusAndSelectSearchInput: () => void;
-  handleStatusUpdate: (scannedFiles: number, processedEvents: number, rescanErrors: number) => void;
+  handleStatusUpdate: (
+    scannedFiles: number,
+    processedEvents: number,
+    rescanErrors: number,
+    statusMessage?: string,
+  ) => void;
   setLifecycleState: (status: 'Initializing' | 'Updating' | 'Ready') => void;
   submitFilesQuery: (query: string, options?: { immediate?: boolean }) => void;
   setEventFilterQuery: (query: string) => void;
@@ -113,7 +118,7 @@ describe('useAppWindowListeners', () => {
     act(() => {
       statusCallback?.({ scannedFiles: 11, processedEvents: 22, rescanErrors: 3 });
     });
-    expect(handleStatusUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(11, 22, 3);
+    expect(handleStatusUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(11, 22, 3, undefined);
 
     act(() => {
       lifecycleCallback?.('Ready');

cardinal/src/hooks/useAppWindowListeners.ts

@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ type UseAppWindowListenersOptions = {
   activeTab: StatusTabKey;
   searchInputRef: RefObject<HTMLInputElement>;
   focusAndSelectSearchInput: () => void;
-  handleStatusUpdate: (scannedFiles: number, processedEvents: number, rescanErrors: number) => void;
+  handleStatusUpdate: (
+    scannedFiles: number,
+    processedEvents: number,
+    rescanErrors: number,
+    statusMessage?: string,
+  ) => void;
   setLifecycleState: (status: AppLifecycleStatus) => void;
   submitFilesQuery: (query: string, options?: QueueSearchOptions) => void;
   setEventFilterQuery: (value: string) => void;
@@ -50,8 +55,8 @@ export function useAppWindowListeners({
   });
   useEffect(() => {
     const unlistenStatus = subscribeStatusBarUpdate((payload: StatusBarUpdatePayload) => {
-      const { scannedFiles, processedEvents, rescanErrors } = payload;
-      handleStatusUpdate(scannedFiles, processedEvents, rescanErrors);
+      const { scannedFiles, processedEvents, rescanErrors, statusMessage } = payload;
+      handleStatusUpdate(scannedFiles, processedEvents, rescanErrors, statusMessage);
     });
     return unlistenStatus;
   }, [handleStatusUpdate]);

cardinal/src/hooks/useFileSearch.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ type SearchState = {
   scannedFiles: number;
   processedEvents: number;
   rescanErrors: number;
+  statusMessage: string | null;
   currentQuery: string;
   currentDirectoryQuery: string;
   highlightTerms: string[];
@@ -45,7 +46,12 @@ type QueueSearchOptions = {
 type SearchAction =
   | {
       type: 'STATUS_UPDATE';
-      payload: { scannedFiles: number; processedEvents: number; rescanErrors: number };
+      payload: {
+        scannedFiles: number;
+        processedEvents: number;
+        rescanErrors: number;
+        statusMessage?: string;
+      };
     }
   | { type: 'SEARCH_REQUEST'; payload: { immediate: boolean } }
   | { type: 'SEARCH_LOADING_DELAY' }
@@ -76,6 +82,7 @@ const initialSearchState: SearchState = {
   scannedFiles: 0,
   processedEvents: 0,
   rescanErrors: 0,
+  statusMessage: null,
   currentQuery: '',
   currentDirectoryQuery: '',
   highlightTerms: [],
@@ -132,6 +139,7 @@ function reducer(state: SearchState, action: SearchAction): SearchState {
         scannedFiles: action.payload.scannedFiles,
         processedEvents: action.payload.processedEvents,
         rescanErrors: action.payload.rescanErrors,
+        statusMessage: action.payload.statusMessage ?? null,
       };
     case 'SEARCH_REQUEST':
       return {
@@ -200,7 +208,12 @@ type UseFileSearchResult = {
   queueSearch: (query: string, options?: QueueSearchOptions) => void;
   queueDirectorySearch: (directoryQuery: string, options?: QueueSearchOptions) => void;
   queueDirectoryScopeOpen: (directoryScopeOpen: boolean) => void;
-  handleStatusUpdate: (scannedFiles: number, processedEvents: number, rescanErrors: number) => void;
+  handleStatusUpdate: (
+    scannedFiles: number,
+    processedEvents: number,
+    rescanErrors: number,
+    statusMessage?: string,
+  ) => void;
   setLifecycleState: (status: AppLifecycleStatus) => void;
   requestRescan: () => Promise<void>;
 };
@@ -234,10 +247,15 @@ export function useFileSearch(): UseFileSearchResult {
   }, []);
 
   const handleStatusUpdate = useCallback(
-    (scannedFiles: number, processedEvents: number, rescanErrors: number) => {
+    (
+      scannedFiles: number,
+      processedEvents: number,
+      rescanErrors: number,
+      statusMessage?: string,
+    ) => {
       dispatch({
         type: 'STATUS_UPDATE',
-        payload: { scannedFiles, processedEvents, rescanErrors },
+        payload: { scannedFiles, processedEvents, rescanErrors, statusMessage },
       });
     },
     [],

cardinal/src/types/ipc.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ export type StatusBarUpdatePayload = {
   scannedFiles: number;
   processedEvents: number;
   rescanErrors: number;
+  statusMessage?: string;
 };
 
 export type IconUpdateWirePayload = {