If this sounds like your week
When Windows Search gets in the way
field machines need manuals and installers while VPN, radios, and browser tabs are already loading the CPU. Windows Search does not expose Search Sentinel's opt-in pause_on_battery threshold model for a custom watched-folder index. the fan spin-up is visible when a background indexer wakes during a remote assist session on a low battery.
Where tooling usually breaks
Why local-first matters
index.db, config.json, and logs stay under %APPDATA%\SearchSentinel instead of a vendor-hosted workspace. Search queries are not uploaded for AI enhancement, analytics, or ad targeting. You buy the app once and keep the search index as a local workstation asset.
Technical proof points
- GetSystemPowerStatus - 20% pause threshold - 30% resume threshold - SQLite FTS5 - Win32 Power API - Battery-aware indexing - Tray status