The new disk cache for the grid view works very good. Very fast once the covers has been cached. Also a very nice touch to allow the user to open the cache folder and clear it.
I have found that virtual libraries together with the grid view is like a marriage made in heaven. Like switching between book shelves, only better. I am in the process of adding more virtual libraries...
I use Ubuntu 13.04 and I successfully moved the cache from my home directory, on a relatively slow mechanical HD, to SSD. I actually moved all the caches in ~ from the HD to the SSD, by adding the line...
Code:
XDG_CACHE_HOME=/opt/SpeedUpFolder/adoby/.cache
...to the the file ~/.pam_environment.
Works fine, and I feel that is a very good use of my SSD. I already have my metadata.db:s in the SpeedUpFolder.
Four minor suggestions that doesn't really change anything, mostly just to give calibre a little more "polished" feel and make it a little easier to use:
1. It would be nice if, when connected to a device, there was some hint that a book is present on the device. In the normal record view the "On Device" column can be used. In the grid view there could perhaps be a 1px lighter frame drawn around books that are on the device, or a slightly lighter background?
2. When the disk cache for the covers has been made invalid, after a change of cover sizes or the cache emptied, the grid view is slow because the images has to be cached again. It would be nice if the cache could be rebuilt automatically, perhaps by a low priority background job. Similar to the one that generates the backup OPF-files. Perhaps activated with a check box in preferences.
An alternative could be to precache the books adjacent to the current view. A page or two worth of books up and down, from the current view. Could perhaps be used to refresh the memory cache from the disk cache, and if it fails instead update the disk cache.
3. The +/- buttons in preferences to resize the cover while preserving aspect are very nice. When you get down to 0 size "automatic" returns, but it took me a little testing to discover that. It could be helpful with an extra button automatic/default or reset between the +/- buttons.
4. The cover grid was especially nice to use when used together with several virtual libraries. It makes it possible to very quickly change the grid to show a smaller subset of books. A tabbed interface to the grid view could enhance this a lot. Perhaps tabs at the top of the grid, that always are visible and possible to scroll left and right. And optionally to remove. To switch virtual library, just cklick on a tab.
Perhaps a checkbox when editing the virtual library: Show as tab in cover grid.
And the first tab "All" to disable virtual libraries.