Hey,

I want to be able to access my projects from my laptop and my desktop, without syncing build folders (patterns are okay for this) or large data folders (manually selected is preferable for those). A bonus would be to be able to selectively keep files remote to use less storage space.

I also want to sync some regular documents and class notes, but everything is able to do that at least.

Syncthing “works” for this, but it doesn’t have a web file browser or a “main” hoster, so I don’t think it’s quite the right tool.

I recently installed owncloud, and its desktop sync can almost do this, but it can’t keep files local without uploading them (otherwise it seems pretty good!). Seafile hasn’t worked at all for me, and ime nextcloud is decently painful and has way too many features I don’t need at all.

Am I using the wrong tool for the job? Is there a way to accomplish what I want to accomplish?

    • Sekoia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      That’s… a very good idea. I should do that anyway.

      Forgejo for projects and syncthing for data is probably perfect, thank you!

  • shiny_idea@aussie.zoneEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Syncthing may not have its own Web-based file browser but a regular Web server (like Apache or ngninx) can show a list of files in a directory without much configuration. Just point it at a shared folder. You could configure a fancier file browser like Filestash, File Browser Quantum, or even Nextcloud if you feel it’s worthwhile.

    Likewise, Syncthing may not have its own concept of a “main” hoster, but it doesn’t need to: you can decide what “main” means to you. Perhaps the one you designate “main” has different ignore patterns, or a longer retention policy.

    “Keeping some files remote” can be simply making sure your ignore patterns are set how you want them, if that works for you.

    • Sekoia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      Fair enough! The disadvantage is that, as opposed to Dropbox and similar, I have go into a file at the root of the synced folder, rather than keeping that config near to where itcs relevant.

      Thanks for the names!

  • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    Syncthing works great, if you want a web based file browser you can install one of the many available on a server with syncthing.

    • Sekoia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      it does! I use it to sync my music, but I feel like it’s not the right tool for the job here.

      I don’t want to “have the folders connected”, I want to have the ability to sync files easily, while excluding specific folders and files.

      • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        Ahh gotcha, selective sync or virtual file system are the common terms for that. Nextcloud supports it, Owncloud does too and I think Owncloud Infinite Scale does but it’s not 100% clear.

        When you say Owncloud couldn’t keep files local without uploading, was that with VFS enabled on the client?

        • Sekoia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          I tried with both, but I didn’t figure out how if such an option exists. I did manage to do the opposite (keeping files uploaded but not having them locally), both with and without VFS (with VFS it’s in a context menu in nautilus, without it’s in the desktop app).

  • manicdave@feddit.ukEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    I don’t know how far owncloud and nextcloud have diverged, but in the nextcloud client you can add filters to ignore files by clicking the three dots on the folder in settings.

    You can also free up local space by using virtual folders, but it only works properly on windows.

  • BCsven@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Have you tried Seafile. https://www.seafile.com/en/home/

    It has server and client. And you can choose what to sync, so you don’t have to pull down entire folders.
    Also has a webgui. Client side has Sync client or Drive client for Windows/Linux/Mac.

    Drive client works more like a network drive so you don’t need to sync the files.

    Also has Android/ IOS app

    • Sekoia@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      I have. It hasn’t worked very well for me, the docs weren’t great (though I’m looking at them now and they do seem better?) and it broke in strange ways.

      • BCsven@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        It has been working well for us, we have a central work server and most use WebGUU, but some of us have the Sync or Drive Client and Phone Apps. I only had to pause sync and restart for a file that wasn’t syncing once in about 9 years

  • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    Are you looking for selective sync, and just over the LAN or over the internet too?

    If just LAN, there’s many Windows sync tools for this with varying levels of complexity and capability. Even just a simple batch file with a copy command.

    I’ll often just setup a Robocopy job for something that’s a regular sync.

    If you open files over a network connection, they stay remote and remain remote when you save. Though this isn’t best practice (Windows and apps are known for having hiccups with remotely opened files).

    Two other approaches:

    1. ResilioSync enables selective sync. If you change a file you’ve synchronized locally, the changed file will sync back to the source.

    2. Mesh network such as Wireguard, Tailscale, Hamachi. Each enables you to maintain an encrypted connection between your devices that the system sees as a LAN (with encryption). If you’re only using Windows, I’d recommend starting with Hamachi, it’s easier to get started. If mobile device support is needed, use Wireguard or Tailscale (Tailscale uses Wireguard, but easier to setup).