Multithreaded Text Search Tool (MTST)

The Multithreaded Text Search Tool (MTST) is a command-line utility inspired by grep in Linux. It allows users to search for a specified pattern within text files in a given directory and its subdirectories. MTST leverages multithreading, process creation, synchronization mechanisms, and interprocess communication to efficiently perform the search.

Features

1. Search Text Files: MTST recursively scans all .txt files in the specified directory and its subdirectories to find occurrences of the user-provided pattern.

2. Multithreading and Process Creation:

   • For each subdirectory encountered during traversal, MTST creates a new process to handle the search within that subdirectory.
   • Within each process, multiple threads are spawned to search individual text files concurrently.

3. Synchronization Mechanisms:

   • MTST uses semaphores and locks to ensure proper synchronization between processes and threads.
   • Semaphores prevent race conditions when accessing shared resources (e.g., counting matches).
   • Locks protect critical sections (e.g., updating match counts).

4. Output Format:

   • The program outputs results in the following format:

     ./directory/filename.txt:lineNumber:characterNumber:ID:time
     

     • lineNumber: The line where the pattern was found.
     • characterNumber: The position of the first matching character in that line.
     • ID: The thread/process ID responsible for the search.
     • time: The execution time of the thread/process.

5. User Interface (UI):

   • The UI is built using Electron.js, providing an intuitive interface for users to input the directory and pattern.
   • To set up the UI, follow the installation instructions below.

Installation

1. Clone this repository:

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

Usage

1. Open the terminal and navigate to the project directory.

2. Run the program:

   npm run start
   

3. In the UI, enter the following:

   • Directory Path: The absolute path to the directory containing the text files.
   • Pattern: The search pattern (plain text).

4. Click the "Search" button.

Desktop version

Download for Linux

Notes

• Adjust the number of threads and processes based on system resources and performance requirements.
• Ensure proper error handling for file I/O, directory permissions, and other edge cases.

Feel free to enhance and customize MTST according to your needs. Happy coding! 🚀