updating locate database only when disk activity low
 

Updating the slocate database slows the computer a lot (stupid IDE bus), so I'm looking for a way to do it only when the cpu load AND disk activity are low--basically, when I'm not trying to do anything else.

Cron really doesn't help because I use my computer at all kinds of weird times. I can't have it run at any set time without it getting in my way sometimes.

There must be some tool I don't know about, but I can't seem to come up with the right search terms. Thanks!

i'm not aware of a nicer way to do this, it may well exist, but google doesn't say so...

i'd say you could set a cron job to update every so often using a command like
so if the load average on the last 5 minutes is less than 0.10 then run updatedb, with a nice value. you might also want to do an age check on thelocatedb file too. no need to update if it's less that 24 ours old etc...