Yiyi Sun - Programming Blog

So Many Ways to Sync

While I was looking for a solution to backup my git repository, I started with the SyncToy. It was the tool I used on XP. Now on Windows 7, the offline files feature can sync network folders and files. On the web, there are Windows Live Sync and Window Live Mesh. They all can sync folders and files. So many tools and features, I am going to pick one by being picky.

SyncToy is easy to use, but it doesn’t support schedule. I am too lazy to to create scheduled tasks in windows.

Windows 7 Sync center can schedule syncs, but basically you are working on a network shared folder. I don’t want to write code on a shared folder. Plus git reports error when using UNC path, unless the shared folder is mapped to a drive.

Windows Live Sync syncs files between computers, not shared folders. Computers must be on the Internet and be running Live Sync program under my account. My wife is mainly using the other computer that I want to save a backup to.  I need to create shares …

Live Mesh is similar to Live Sync. Further more, it actually copies files to its web storage. To have a backup in the cloud is a good option. No worries about my wife’s computer. I will chose Live Mesh. All I need to do is just to right click the folder and select “Add folder to Live Mesh …”

BTW, when right clicked, another menu showed up “Shared Folder Synchronization …”. What? Another sync tool, SharePoint Workspaces?

Add comment December 23rd, 2009

Sync Git Repository

I want to copy my git repository to another computer for the purpose of backup. After installed the git on the other computer, I found out a SSH server is also needed on that Windows system. Fortunately followed this blog post, "8 ways to share your git repository", I used the shared folder option. It is not even needed to install git on remote computer.

The remote repository is a shared repository that I can push my branches to. This is great. But what I wanted is only to have a backup my repository. End of the day what I need is the Sync Toy.

Actually I have been playing the engine behind the sync toy for a while, the Microsoft Sync Framework. It seems that things come along together around the concept of disconnected and distributed. Git is. Sync is. It could be a big concept in application development.

Add comment December 23rd, 2009