Synchronizing data between computers and mobile devices using Syncthing
In Step
Syncthing is a free alternative to BitTorrent Sync for synchronizing data on computers and mobile devices.
Users have several reasons for synchronizing data between different devices. Synchronization lets you keep directories with the same contents on a workstation and on a laptop, or you can use synchronization to back up a video or music collection.
Popular services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and other providers offer an easy means to synchronize files, but many users aren't comfortable with the privacy concerns associated with public cloud services. An alternative remote synchronization tool is BitTorrent Sync [1], which is based on the BitTorrent protocol's peer-to-peer (P2P) [2] system. Of course, many Linux users want as much Free Software as possible: BitTorrent Sync does not meet this requirement – the program is distributed as freeware, but the source code is not open.
Syncthing [3] (Figure 1) has been available as a free alternative since 2014. Like BitTorrent Sync, Syncthing uses peer-to-peer technology; however, its source code is licensed under the Mozilla Public License [4].
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.
-
A New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle, a Linux AI assistant, works with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.
-
FreeBSD Promises a Full Desktop Installer
FreeBSD has lacked an option to include a full desktop environment during installation.
-
Linux Hits an Important Milestone
If you pay attention to the news in the Linux-sphere, you've probably heard that the open source operating system recently crashed through a ceiling no one thought possible.
-
Plasma Bigscreen Returns
A developer discovered that the Plasma Bigscreen feature had been sitting untouched, so he decided to do something about it.
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.