Description: Folder synchronization and backup tool for KDE
Features: - Smart automatic analysis of files and directories - Based on Qt and KDE Frameworks - Ease of use - Multiple types of operations - Sequential workloads - Optional log creation - Network transparency - Intuitive GUI - Multithreaded computing - Ability to exclude files and directories - PCRE support - Interactive mode to preview operations - Profile creation support
This is a great addition to KDE. A folder sync tool leveraging the power of KIO is something I'd learn C++ and build myself if you hadn't done it for me :) I love everything it does, so I'll only mention what I wish it also did:
1. Ability to take a profile as a commandline argument (allowing making a shortcut to run that profile, optionally without the main UI).
2. As others have said, if you have saved profiles, probably one should be loaded on opening (a chosen default, or just the first in list), then standard CTRL+N shortcut to start a new profile.
3. When picking source/dest, some remote locations (e.g. sftp://) could be easier to browse to: you need to either have the folder (or a parent of it) already defined in KDE's sidebar, or you must manually type out the full protocol URI (and hope you got it right as you can't edit it after). If I type the URI (or a folder above it) in the UI and hit Enter, it would be good if that location came up in the picker.
4. Dolphin/konqueror integration. Like being able to do an ad-hoc quick sync between two open panes in split-view (or open them in KFolderSync as a new profile) from a toolbar option or context-menu (KDiff3 shows an example how to do the latter).
5. Button to quickly switch source and destination.
6. Bi-directional sync. Only possible by keeping state-data in profile in order to know added files from deleted ones (like Unison does), so maybe this is out-of-scope, but would be a killer feature.
I'll definitely get a lot of use out of this app, further improvements or no. Thanks for your work!
Very nice app!
I have always used Grsync but it has a GTK interface.
I wanted a Qt Gui application.
This is perfect for me.
I hope this project is still alive.
Regards
Hi everyone! It's been a long time, I know, sorry but I've been very busy at work. Here I am to decide whether it's worth keeping this project alive, so here some questions I'd like you all to answer:
1) Do you still think this app is useful?
2) Do you want me to keep on improving it?
3) Would you like to have both a Qt GUI and a GTK GUI? (already in progress btw)
4) Do you have any suggestions on a possible new name for this app?
5) Would you be willing to donate something from time to time to keep this project alive?
The more the people who will answer this little questionnaire the better.
I want you to be honest and write what you really think: just try to have a constructive approach please.
Hi, hope I am not too late :P
1) YES!
2) Yes (please)
3) I guess, but then doesn't that mean replacing KIO with gvfs? I would rather see two completely separate apps than trying to ride two horses at once, with potentially one version held back to keep feature-parity between them.
4) Is this because of (3)? In that case I propose: "FolderSync" ;) Seriously, it might not sound very cool but it tells me exactly what it does - that's how I found this app!
5) Am British so hate questions like this but sure. Some. Probably not as much as you need but some.
Super app - runs on three on my machines - works perfectly and fast.
One question - is it possible to open with a defauly Profile - I can see no cli options to do this, but would be useful to save time.
Thanks
JJ
Hi,
First of all, great piece of software, and good to know the developer really is in tune with the users :)
Just a few suggestions for a bit of improvement:
- when previewing (the dry run), perhaps the individual/ total amount of data to be transferred could be summarized? Also, the icons on the dry run list could have a tooltip indicating what will happen with each file/folder, as the symbol is often not clear enough
- is it possible to add a bit of fine control to the overall (e.g.:incremental) lbackup behaviour? For instance, the default behaviour of duplicating files when timestamps don't match could be user-choice (with rename (current default), skip or overwrite-if-newer options)
Cheers!
Hi! The preview mode has just been introduced, that's why is a bit "simple", I'll certainly follow your suggestions for future releases.
About the fine control, can you be more specific? I mean: do you want the program asking you interactively for each file? Or something else? Because differential backup is to overwrite, incremental to rename the old and copy the new one, so are you asking for something to mix it (the behaviour) up?
Thanks for your feedback
Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply!
On the matter of the fine control, I meant that the behaviour regarding clashing filenames could be user choice for each type of backup. For instance, creating an additional choice under "Additional options" such as
On conflicting filenames:
_Overwrite
_Overwrite if newer
_Rename
Perhaps on some backup plans such as full backup this option does not make sense, and thus it could be disabled when that backup type is selected.
What do you reckon? Does this make sense?
Cheers
Of course it makes sense, but you can already do that. I mean, the only thing that differentiates the various backup types is exactly what you are looking for. Have you read the tooltips on mouseover? Maybe that's not so clear as I expected and I need to review the GUI
Hi,
Perhaps I am missing something, but I couldn't find a backup plan that does what I mentioned before. Say I have folder A (source) and folder B (destination). If I want folder B to have all the files that folder A has (but not necessarily the other way round) I choose incremental backup; however as far as I understood sor far this plan has a default behaviour of copying files from folder A already present in folder B if the respective timestamps don't match, while renaming the files in folder B. What I suggest is just to add an option to only copy (and overwrite) the files already present in B if the files from A are newer, instead of just adding more files. Is this currently possible?
Thanks for your patience.
No problem, we're just trying to understand each other.
From what I read, what you actually want is the differential backup with source A and destination B
Hi,
Sorry for the delayed reply. You're absolutely right, I was misreading the description; differential backup is indeed what I was looking for. Maybe the tooltip description could be a bit more clear, still.
By the way, in addition to my previous suggestions, would it be possible to export the profile as a file (XML-like or something) to later import into the program? Also, some scheduling / device options (e.g.: run bkacup every time a certain external dirve is plugged) would be great, and make this even more the weapon of choice :)
Thank you for your work.
Hi! The conversation is getting pretty big and the website does not let me reply anymore under the exact message. However, profiles *are* saved as file, you can already find it under
~/.config/kfoldersync/profiles
but I'll add some actions to ease the import/export.
For the scheduling of the device I can't currently promise you anything, but I'll look into it, I need time and I don't have much in this period.
Which language are you using? Because maybe the description hasn't been translated clearly
Thanks for pointing out the profiles detail. The scheduling options would make for a great feature, but it is indeed not a deal-breaker.
I'm using the program in English, I guess I'll just have to pay more attention to the tooltip descriptions.
Cheers!
I think this app is great.
I also love the response from the development team - keeps up to date with kde, superb quality control, and responsive to user input for features and function.
If only all software was done like this.
Super job,
John
PS and wonderful that you have an install for KAOS!
Is it possible to save the configuration (folders to sync)? After every program start I need to set up the folders new.
Maybe it could be possible through profiles like in grsync?
Ratings & Comments
56 Comments
10 10 the best
This is a great addition to KDE. A folder sync tool leveraging the power of KIO is something I'd learn C++ and build myself if you hadn't done it for me :) I love everything it does, so I'll only mention what I wish it also did: 1. Ability to take a profile as a commandline argument (allowing making a shortcut to run that profile, optionally without the main UI). 2. As others have said, if you have saved profiles, probably one should be loaded on opening (a chosen default, or just the first in list), then standard CTRL+N shortcut to start a new profile. 3. When picking source/dest, some remote locations (e.g. sftp://) could be easier to browse to: you need to either have the folder (or a parent of it) already defined in KDE's sidebar, or you must manually type out the full protocol URI (and hope you got it right as you can't edit it after). If I type the URI (or a folder above it) in the UI and hit Enter, it would be good if that location came up in the picker. 4. Dolphin/konqueror integration. Like being able to do an ad-hoc quick sync between two open panes in split-view (or open them in KFolderSync as a new profile) from a toolbar option or context-menu (KDiff3 shows an example how to do the latter). 5. Button to quickly switch source and destination. 6. Bi-directional sync. Only possible by keeping state-data in profile in order to know added files from deleted ones (like Unison does), so maybe this is out-of-scope, but would be a killer feature. I'll definitely get a lot of use out of this app, further improvements or no. Thanks for your work!
10 10 the best
Very nice app! I have always used Grsync but it has a GTK interface. I wanted a Qt Gui application. This is perfect for me. I hope this project is still alive. Regards
Very very good for Kde Neon 2020 !!
10 10 il migliore
Hi everyone! It's been a long time, I know, sorry but I've been very busy at work. Here I am to decide whether it's worth keeping this project alive, so here some questions I'd like you all to answer: 1) Do you still think this app is useful? 2) Do you want me to keep on improving it? 3) Would you like to have both a Qt GUI and a GTK GUI? (already in progress btw) 4) Do you have any suggestions on a possible new name for this app? 5) Would you be willing to donate something from time to time to keep this project alive? The more the people who will answer this little questionnaire the better. I want you to be honest and write what you really think: just try to have a constructive approach please.
Hi, hope I am not too late :P 1) YES! 2) Yes (please) 3) I guess, but then doesn't that mean replacing KIO with gvfs? I would rather see two completely separate apps than trying to ride two horses at once, with potentially one version held back to keep feature-parity between them. 4) Is this because of (3)? In that case I propose: "FolderSync" ;) Seriously, it might not sound very cool but it tells me exactly what it does - that's how I found this app! 5) Am British so hate questions like this but sure. Some. Probably not as much as you need but some.
Super app - runs on three on my machines - works perfectly and fast. One question - is it possible to open with a defauly Profile - I can see no cli options to do this, but would be useful to save time. Thanks JJ
Hi, no, it's not possible, but I can add this feature for the next version
Would be great if you did this. Thanks. JJ
Hi, First of all, great piece of software, and good to know the developer really is in tune with the users :) Just a few suggestions for a bit of improvement: - when previewing (the dry run), perhaps the individual/ total amount of data to be transferred could be summarized? Also, the icons on the dry run list could have a tooltip indicating what will happen with each file/folder, as the symbol is often not clear enough - is it possible to add a bit of fine control to the overall (e.g.:incremental) lbackup behaviour? For instance, the default behaviour of duplicating files when timestamps don't match could be user-choice (with rename (current default), skip or overwrite-if-newer options) Cheers!
Hi! The preview mode has just been introduced, that's why is a bit "simple", I'll certainly follow your suggestions for future releases. About the fine control, can you be more specific? I mean: do you want the program asking you interactively for each file? Or something else? Because differential backup is to overwrite, incremental to rename the old and copy the new one, so are you asking for something to mix it (the behaviour) up? Thanks for your feedback
Hi, Thanks for the quick reply! On the matter of the fine control, I meant that the behaviour regarding clashing filenames could be user choice for each type of backup. For instance, creating an additional choice under "Additional options" such as On conflicting filenames: _Overwrite _Overwrite if newer _Rename Perhaps on some backup plans such as full backup this option does not make sense, and thus it could be disabled when that backup type is selected. What do you reckon? Does this make sense? Cheers
Of course it makes sense, but you can already do that. I mean, the only thing that differentiates the various backup types is exactly what you are looking for. Have you read the tooltips on mouseover? Maybe that's not so clear as I expected and I need to review the GUI
Hi, Perhaps I am missing something, but I couldn't find a backup plan that does what I mentioned before. Say I have folder A (source) and folder B (destination). If I want folder B to have all the files that folder A has (but not necessarily the other way round) I choose incremental backup; however as far as I understood sor far this plan has a default behaviour of copying files from folder A already present in folder B if the respective timestamps don't match, while renaming the files in folder B. What I suggest is just to add an option to only copy (and overwrite) the files already present in B if the files from A are newer, instead of just adding more files. Is this currently possible? Thanks for your patience.
No problem, we're just trying to understand each other. From what I read, what you actually want is the differential backup with source A and destination B
Have you tried what I said? Because if I was wrong, I need to know
Hi, Sorry for the delayed reply. You're absolutely right, I was misreading the description; differential backup is indeed what I was looking for. Maybe the tooltip description could be a bit more clear, still. By the way, in addition to my previous suggestions, would it be possible to export the profile as a file (XML-like or something) to later import into the program? Also, some scheduling / device options (e.g.: run bkacup every time a certain external dirve is plugged) would be great, and make this even more the weapon of choice :) Thank you for your work.
Hi! The conversation is getting pretty big and the website does not let me reply anymore under the exact message. However, profiles *are* saved as file, you can already find it under ~/.config/kfoldersync/profiles but I'll add some actions to ease the import/export. For the scheduling of the device I can't currently promise you anything, but I'll look into it, I need time and I don't have much in this period. Which language are you using? Because maybe the description hasn't been translated clearly
Thanks for pointing out the profiles detail. The scheduling options would make for a great feature, but it is indeed not a deal-breaker. I'm using the program in English, I guess I'll just have to pay more attention to the tooltip descriptions. Cheers!
Sorry, bad translation, I meant "has just been added"
I think this app is great. I also love the response from the development team - keeps up to date with kde, superb quality control, and responsive to user input for features and function. If only all software was done like this. Super job, John PS and wonderful that you have an install for KAOS!
Thank you!
Is it possible to save the configuration (folders to sync)? After every program start I need to set up the folders new. Maybe it could be possible through profiles like in grsync?