rename 'Compress Library' to 'Purge Library'

[hiccup]

No, I don't think compress library does fully encompass what's happening, but technically it is smaller (compressed) when done <shrug>

That's a result, perhaps.
But it's not the intention or purpose of that function.

And I think you haven't answered my question about your 'fuel line' example.
When somebody says 'purge the fuel line', would a Canadian assume he means removing the fuel line altogether, or cleaning it from water or other contamination?

[Mr. Trev]

No, I don't think compress library does fully encompass what's happening, but technically it is smaller (compressed) when done <shrug>

That's a result, perhaps.
But it's not the intention or purpose of that function.

And I think you haven't answered my question about your 'fuel line' example.
When somebody says 'purge the fuel line', would a Canadian assume he means removing the fuel line altogether, or cleaning it from water or other contamination?

OK. Thinking more about this, I guess the issue I find is I rarely - if ever hear people just simply say they are purging something (purge the fuel line). It's always "purge water/air/whatever from the fuel line".
Not saying this is right or wrong, its just my experience & opinion

[hiccup]

OK. Thinking more about this, I guess the issue I find is I rarely - if ever hear people just simply say they are purging something (purge the fuel line).

I see.
Perhaps my English compass is off a bit.
But still, when I perform searches on 'compress database' vs . 'purge database', 'compress' is almost always described as having the purpose of saving space, and 'purge' is always described having the purpose of removing obsolete data.
The latter being the purpose of this MusicBee feature and what it actually does.

[Pickles7853]

While I agree you should use the most appropriate word, I also (personally) believe that the context is more important.
There are specific words you use depending on circumstance, industry, topic, etc.

If I am visiting a professional poker tournament in Las Vegas, I expect they will use words I have not heard of:
Hole cards, river, flop, big blind, etc.
These terms were "coined" specifically for playing cards over its history.  I do not expect them to dumb down the terminology to the lowest common factor so everyone can understand.  I expect the opposite.  If someone is interested in professional poker I expect them to learn what these words mean.

You might also consider sports.  There are tons of special words in football (scrimmage, end zone, audible, grid iron).  And all the other sports have their own words.

For this reason the hill I am dying on stays at: compress.
Though I value you opinion on the matter 

[hiccup]

…There are specific words you use depending on circumstance, industry, topic, etc.
…You might also consider sports.  There are tons of special words in football

For this reason the hill I am dying on stays at: compress.

Off-topic: Interesting how this 'dying on this hill' phrase is suddenly so popular and used in so many forum posts, speeches, YouTube video's etc. lately.

Regarding context and circumstances of using specific words and terminology:
Yes, of course. This has been the base of my arguments and my reason for raising this to begin with.

Do a web or LLM search on 'compress' vs. 'purge' yourself, it pertaining to computer databases.
It will substantiate what I have been arguing for.

Here's a screenshot of what an LLM says about it:



Again, it may be my lackluster senses/understanding of the English language, but I still don't see any validity in any of the opposing arguments that have been raised.

But if nothing that I said, and the above table doesn't convince you (or the developer), I'll accept defeat.
I think I have spend more than enough time and effort on this.

edit
I'm even doing myself a favour by letting this go:
There is no Dutch word for 'purge', so I won't have to come up with something creative for my Dutch translation file.

[Mr. Trev]

OK. Thinking more about this, I guess the issue I find is I rarely - if ever hear people just simply say they are purging something (purge the fuel line).

I see.
Perhaps my English compass is off a bit.
But still, when I perform searches on 'compress database' vs . 'purge database', 'compress' is almost always described as having the purpose of saving space, and 'purge' is always described having the purpose of removing obsolete data.
The latter being the purpose of this MusicBee feature and what it actually does.

What is your native language, if you don't mind me asking? I have to imagine that there is a wonderfully complex German word that describes exactly what Musicbee is doing

You're correct in your interpretations of compress vs. purge. My earlier example of purging the library from Musicbee may have been badly worded. It probably would haven been better for me to say I could also see purge being used to mean removing all data in order to build the library from scratch. If I'm dumb enough to think of this, I have to think there are others who would too.

I think "purge obsolete data" could be an ideal (but wordy) option

[hiccup]

What is your native language, if you don't mind me asking? I have to imagine that there is a wonderfully complex German word that describes exactly what Musicbee is doing

DATENMÜLLENTSCHLACKUNG!

(Be sure to shout it at the top of your lungs. Explain it to your neighbors later)

PS
I am Dutch.
You know, the people that are sometimes disliked and yet also somewhat appreciated for being more direct than polite.

PS 2
I guess in a sense the Dutch can be considered to be Germans, but having a sense of humour.
(probably thanks to our Jewish fellow people that Germany didn't care about much)
Their loss.

PS 3
If you are looking for a good mix of sophistication and humour (and good music), go find a Belgian.
(they haven't decided on a language yet, so regarding this topic they can safely be ignored)

[Pickles7853]

I've thought about it some more.  Your table was very persuasive in that regard.  The word purge in itself isn't bad.  Its the adjective we are choosing to accompany it is where I am having difficulty.  Most of the problem is that "purge" is a common word in English.  And correct or not, it is more often equated with delete/ remove.

Purge Library sounds like Delete Library.
Purge Database sounds like Delete Database.

I think a good compromise, in your favor, would be "Purge Dead Links".  This gets right to heart of the matter, has purge in it  , and is explicit enough that it would be hard to misunderstand what its purpose would be.

[BoringName]

While "purge" might be accurate, it does have delete connotations.

Old company I worked for used the Borland Database Engine and kept using it nearly 20 years after support had ceased. Corrupt indexes were a daily occurrence because of unfixed bugs in Borland and they had an option in the software to 'Rebuild Tables'.

Maybe Rebuild Database would be a better option?

That being said, I'm ok with it staying as "Compress". I think that is a better option than "Purge". Compress makes me think it's possibly doing something beneficial, Purge makes me think it's doing something I might regret.

[karbock]

Suggestions:

• Clean up library
  (idiomatic, clear and short)
• Prune library
  (short, but rather technical term, so probably less clear for lay users)
• Compact library
• Clean old library entries (see * below)
• Remove outdated library entries (see * below)

(*) Possible adjectives:
old / outdated / deprecated / obsolete / invalid / orphaned

'Purge library' could be ambiguous, as the accurate meaning of 'purge' depends on the context:

• to purge a database = remove deprecated entries
• to purge a log file = truncate or even empty it
• to purge (Oracle): "Use the PURGE statement to remove a table or index from your recycle bin and release all of the space associated with the object, or to remove the entire recycle bin, or to remove part of all of a dropped tablespace from the recycle bin." (Source: https://docs.oracle.com/database/121/SQLRF/statements_9020.htm#SQLRF01803)

But, as Pickles7853 suggested, 'Purge dead links' is clearer.

EDIT: clarification

[hiccup]

'Purge library' could be ambiguous, as the accurate meaning of 'purge' depends on the context:

• to purge a database = remove deprecated entries

This confirms that 'purge' would be the factual correct term to use here.
MusicBee's library is a database.

But considering the word seems to have some ambiguity in 'natural language' I can understand the objections by native English speakers against it.

edit
My last stubborn-me comment on this matter and then I'll shut-up:
If there was an additional entry for deleting the library it would probably remove any possible misunderstanding:
-  Purge Library
-  Delete Library

[Bee-liever]

According to the conversation way back here ,
the command purges the database of "files no longer referenced in the library or playlists" and compresses the database.
So if a rename did take place, than I think karbock's suggesstion of compact would be the +1 for me.

[BoringName]

Compact library

If it was to change, that gets my vote.

The software I mentioned earlier also had that as an option along with rebuild but I couldn't remember it.

[Steven]

renamed to Compact Library in v3.7