Synchronize your data across multiple devices with Syncthing

Conclusions

Syncthing helps you keep your personal data in sync across several different devices on your local network. Since the software works in peer-to-peer mode, it does not require a dedicated server or a cloud subscription. The tool works quickly and reliably in the background; you only need the web interface for configuration changes (see the "A Word of Caution: Outdated GTK Front End" box). All told, Syncthing is a great solution for anyone wanting to quickly synchronize data across platforms and devices.

A Word of Caution: Outdated GTK Front End

A GTK front end for Syncthing has been around for a long time (Figure 3). You will find it, with approximately the same version number, in the repositories of various distributions. Unfortunately, this front end has not been independently maintained for over three years. Some restrictions now apply to operations due to incompatibility with a number of dependencies. The matching Flatpak can also be installed and started, but without full functionality. My recommendation is to opt for the web interface and avoid this GTK front end.

Figure 3: Unusable due to lack of maintenance: the GTK-based front end for Syncthing.

Infos

  1. Syncthing: https://syncthing.net
  2. Syncthing Downloads: https://syncthing.net/downloads/

The Author

Erik Bärwaldt is a self-employed IT admin and technical author living in United Kingdom. He writes for several IT magazines.

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