Syncthing - Free and Open-Source Cross Platform File Sharing
I first heard about the free and open-source file syncing app, Syncthing, when I started using
Obsidian and may people were suggesting it as the back end of their DIY
vault syncing strategy. I ended up using another method for Obsidian,
but larley I have been exploring numerous ways to share files in my home
lab setup, which features Macs, iOS devices an Ubuntu Linux box and VMs
of all different sorts, including Windows.
The aptly named Syncthing Foundation is behind the app that they describe thusly
Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program. It synchronizes files between two or more computers in real time, safely protected from prying eyes. Your data is your data alone and you deserve to choose where it is stored, whether it is shared with some third party, and how it’s transmitted over the internet.
Syncthing is private and secure.
- Private - no central server. Your data is only on your machines
- Encrypted - secured using TLS
- Authenticated - every device is identified by a strong cryptographic certificate.
Open
- Open Protocol - Adheres to a documented specification
- Open Source - All code is available in GitHub
- Open Development - When bugs happen, they are dealt with and not hidden
- Open Discourse - In the Syncthing Forum
Easy to Use
- Powerful - Sync unlimited folders with different people or just between your won devices
- Portable - Administered through a web browser
- Simple - "Syncthing doesn’t need IP addresses or advanced configuration: it just works, over LAN and over the Internet. Every machine is identified by an ID. Give your ID to your friends, share a folder and watch: UPnP will do if you don’t want to port forward or you don’t know how."
My first use case with Synthing is going to be loading downloaded videos from my Mac onto my iPad for use when traveling. I'll let you know how it goes.
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