Comments on: Syncing PowerBooks http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/ Ranting and Raving Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:17:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ed S http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-16784 Ed S Tue, 24 Oct 2006 01:51:17 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-16784 Day^H^H^HMonth late, dollar short... but have you tried <a href="http://www.decimus.net/" rel="nofollow">Synk</a>? It seems to do exactly that: bidirectional syncing between Macs. Disclaimer: I'm a UNIX longtimer but Mac newbie, and haven't even used Synk. I've simply been exploring backup options, and Synk has a good reputation. Day^H^H^HMonth late, dollar short… but have you tried Synk? It seems to do exactly that: bidirectional syncing between Macs.

Disclaimer: I’m a UNIX longtimer but Mac newbie, and haven’t even used Synk. I’ve simply been exploring backup options, and Synk has a good reputation.

]]> By: Mokka mit Schlag » Chronosync: Final Answer http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-12462 Mokka mit Schlag » Chronosync: Final Answer Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:47:43 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-12462 [...] After evaluating Chronosync for a month, the evaluation period is up and it’s time to make a decision. To buy or not to buy, that is the question. I think the answer is no. Chronosync is too slow and too complex to justify paying for. [...] [...] After evaluating Chronosync for a month, the evaluation period is up and it’s time to make a decision. To buy or not to buy, that is the question. I think the answer is no. Chronosync is too slow and too complex to justify paying for. [...]

]]> By: David HM Spector http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-9055 David HM Spector Wed, 26 Jul 2006 03:04:53 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-9055 Hi Elliotte, A small app that I use between my Macs is "File Synchronization" http://nemesys2.dyndns.org:8080/FileSynchronization_EN.html Its $15 (shareware) and is simple but gets the job done. regards, David Hi Elliotte,

A small app that I use between my Macs is “File Synchronization”

http://nemesys2.dyndns.org:8080/FileSynchronization_EN.html

Its $15 (shareware) and is simple but gets the job done.

regards,
David

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8818 Elliotte Rusty Harold Sat, 22 Jul 2006 18:18:55 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8818 I may finally have Chronosync doing more or less what I want it to do. However, I'm afraid it's proving just too slow to use routinely. It seems to take roughly an hour before it even starts transferring data. Saving the sync document when I quit takes from 10 to 30 minutes. There's really no excuse for this. It should be able to run close to the speed of the network. As is, the throughput is nothing close to that. I think I've identified the problem, and I think it's one a lot of simple backup software shares. I've written a <a href="http://cafe.elharo.com/optimization/how-to-write-network-backup-software-a-lesson-in-practical-optimization/" rel="nofollow">short piece</a> about how this sort of software should be optimized. I think the lessons are fairly generic to any network backup or synchronization software, though. I may finally have Chronosync doing more or less what I want it to do. However, I’m afraid it’s proving just too slow to use routinely. It seems to take roughly an hour before it even starts transferring data. Saving the sync document when I quit takes from 10 to 30 minutes. There’s really no excuse for this. It should be able to run close to the speed of the network. As is, the throughput is nothing close to that. I think I’ve identified the problem, and I think it’s one a lot of simple backup software shares. I’ve written a short piece about how this sort of software should be optimized. I think the lessons are fairly generic to any network backup or synchronization software, though.

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8653 Elliotte Rusty Harold Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:59:13 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8653 OK. The analyze panel does seem to allow that. It should be more prominent. It also needs a complete user interface rethink. It is not hierarchical. Instead it shows all 50,000+ files in my home directory in one scrolling list with no search functionality. Furthermore the order in which the files are listed isn't quite random, but isn't quite any other obvious order either. Folders at the same level of the directory are usually sorted alphabetically, but not always. There's probably some method here, but I don't see it. Finally, it's too slow. Clicking on a folder to exclude it results in a wait of several minutes while Chronosync thinks about. That operation should be almost instantaneous. I suspect the problem is that Chronosync unnecessarily ties the update of its data files to its user interface. This is wrong. Even if updating its data files takes a couple of minutes (and it shouldn't) the user interface should update immediately and return control to the user. OK. The analyze panel does seem to allow that. It should be more prominent. It also needs a complete user interface rethink. It is not hierarchical. Instead it shows all 50,000+ files in my home directory in one scrolling list with no search functionality. Furthermore the order in which the files are listed isn’t quite random, but isn’t quite any other obvious order either. Folders at the same level of the directory are usually sorted alphabetically, but not always. There’s probably some method here, but I don’t see it.

Finally, it’s too slow. Clicking on a folder to exclude it results in a wait of several minutes while Chronosync thinks about. That operation should be almost instantaneous. I suspect the problem is that Chronosync unnecessarily ties the update of its data files to its user interface. This is wrong. Even if updating its data files takes a couple of minutes (and it shouldn’t) the user interface should update immediately and return control to the user.

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8647 Elliotte Rusty Harold Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:01:28 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8647 <a href="http://www.softobe.com/products/flsy/pp.html" rel="nofollow">FolderSynchronizer</a> does look interesting. However the user interface commits a number of serious GUI bloopers. The documentation is also quite poorly written. Certainly some of that results from a lack of native English skills. However, there are also some characteristics of the documentation that indicate bad writing in any language (e.g. important topics not covered at all; bad organization of ideas). Overall the impression I get of FolderSynchronizer is that it is a one-person project by a good programmer who does not have the other skills necessary to produce successful applications (writing, marketing, user interface design, fulfillment, testing, etc.) True generalists are rare in software. Successful end-user facing software almost requires a team of people with different skills. In my experience, single-person products are thus rarely worth the hassle of using them. Single-person, closed source, payware products are almost never worth paying for. Possibly I wouldn't have to set up FolderSynchronizer more than once though. I'll play with it. If I can automate down to a single double click it might still work out since I'd bypass most of the mistakes most of the time. FolderSynchronizer does look interesting. However the user interface commits a number of serious GUI bloopers. The documentation is also quite poorly written. Certainly some of that results from a lack of native English skills. However, there are also some characteristics of the documentation that indicate bad writing in any language (e.g. important topics not covered at all; bad organization of ideas).

Overall the impression I get of FolderSynchronizer is that it is a one-person project by a good programmer who does not have the other skills necessary to produce successful applications (writing, marketing, user interface design, fulfillment, testing, etc.) True generalists are rare in software. Successful end-user facing software almost requires a team of people with different skills. In my experience, single-person products are thus rarely worth the hassle of using them. Single-person, closed source, payware products are almost never worth paying for.

Possibly I wouldn’t have to set up FolderSynchronizer more than once though. I’ll play with it. If I can automate down to a single double click it might still work out since I’d bypass most of the mistakes most of the time.

]]> By: Frank http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8640 Frank Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:46:57 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8640 Maybe I don't fully understand what you are trying to do but it seems like ChronoSync does, indeed, allow you to ignore folders on a whim without using the Rules panel. From the Analyze panel, all you do is select the folder you want to ignore, and then select "Exclude" from the Actions menu. From that point on, ChronoSync will ignore that folder when synching. If later on you decide you now want to include that folder, then go through the same steps and select "Include" from the Actions menu. Maybe I don’t fully understand what you are trying to do but it seems like ChronoSync does, indeed, allow you to ignore folders on a whim without using the Rules panel.

From the Analyze panel, all you do is select the folder you want to ignore, and then select “Exclude” from the Actions menu. From that point on, ChronoSync will ignore that folder when synching. If later on you decide you now want to include that folder, then go through the same steps and select “Include” from the Actions menu.

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8639 Elliotte Rusty Harold Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:20:23 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8639 According to the web site, "Unison is a file-synchronization tool for Unix and Windows." The Mac is not mentioned. Mac OS X is Unix, but it's not <em>just</em> Unix. It still has a lot of custom features not shared by other Unixes, particularly with respect to file systems. For instance, file names are only partially case sensitive. Generic Unix backup and file management software usually breaks when run on the Mac. Simple data-only files like text files and MP3s can usually be handled. However, more complex files such as applications, system files, or anything with a resource fork is garbled more often than not. I should experiment with Unison--it's open source after all--but I'm not optimistic. This <a href="http://www.macgeekery.com/gspot/2006-07/complete_bi_directional_home_sync_and_backup_with_unison">article</a> may be helpful. According to the web site, “Unison is a file-synchronization tool for Unix and Windows.” The Mac is not mentioned. Mac OS X is Unix, but it’s not just Unix. It still has a lot of custom features not shared by other Unixes, particularly with respect to file systems. For instance, file names are only partially case sensitive.

Generic Unix backup and file management software usually breaks when run on the Mac. Simple data-only files like text files and MP3s can usually be handled. However, more complex files such as applications, system files, or anything with a resource fork is garbled more often than not. I should experiment with Unison–it’s open source after all–but I’m not optimistic.

This article may be helpful.

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8638 Elliotte Rusty Harold Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:15:02 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8638 I don't see how JungleDisk would help. All it appears to be is a network drive someone else manages. I can mount network disks myself and not pay $0.15 per gigabyte. The goal is to avoid having to manually copy files and folders, and figure out what has and has not changed. Since the goal is to get the files onto a mobile laptop, having the data stored on some Internet server somewhere does not really help. I cannot rely on having fast, reliable Internet connectivity at remote sites, as yesterday's experiences in Chicago prove. I don’t see how JungleDisk would help. All it appears to be is a network drive someone else manages. I can mount network disks myself and not pay $0.15 per gigabyte. The goal is to avoid having to manually copy files and folders, and figure out what has and has not changed.

Since the goal is to get the files onto a mobile laptop, having the data stored on some Internet server somewhere does not really help. I cannot rely on having fast, reliable Internet connectivity at remote sites, as yesterday’s experiences in Chicago prove.

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8636 Elliotte Rusty Harold Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:05:50 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/mac/2006/07/18/syncing-powerbooks/#comment-8636 This isn't just about source code. It's about everything: applications, media, books, libraries, fonts, and more. The goal is to have essentially the same environment on my laptop I do on my desktop without having to think about it. This would avoid situations like yesterday's emergency where I arrived in Chicago to discover: <ol type="A"> <li>I don't have the right version of Eclipse for my talk installed on my laptop</li> <li>The wireless network at the conference site isn't working. </li> </ol> Version control systems really aren't set up to handle that. Doing that right would really require building version control and backups into the operating system at a very low level. That's probably a good idea, but there's no way I can implement that myself in a reasonable amount of time. This isn’t just about source code. It’s about everything: applications, media, books, libraries, fonts, and more. The goal is to have essentially the same environment on my laptop I do on my desktop without having to think about it. This would avoid situations like yesterday’s emergency where I arrived in Chicago to discover:

  1. I don’t have the right version of Eclipse for my talk installed on my laptop
  2. The wireless network at the conference site isn’t working.

Version control systems really aren’t set up to handle that. Doing that right would really require building version control and backups into the operating system at a very low level. That’s probably a good idea, but there’s no way I can implement that myself in a reasonable amount of time.

]]>