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