[btown]

Could Dropbox detect repeated access patterns from the same process, and/or whitelist processes as known "searchers," and start returning blank files? This seems like the kind of problem only a unicorn would dare to tackle, but as luck would have it...?

[serge2k]

So search is broken in these directories?

That seems like a lousy tradeoff.

[mjs7231]

You want to save space by not having data on your local system but use a local search to look in the contents of files not on that system? You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[borski]

Sure you can: index it once, and then stream it forevermore.

[ctoshok]

except remote contents can change

[SturgeonsLaw]

Store a hash or checksum in the index and also allow the remote API to return the hash/checksum to see if the file has changed