When will online-only files work on Linux?

@Здравко, I don't wish to engage in a design discussion with you on a system whose internals I'm not familiar (I'm assuming you're also not privvy to Dropbox's code?). Of what I am sure is that file systems are complicated to implement well...especially those with network components. And just porting a filesystem to another platform is non-trivial.

I think the question is whether Dropbox will implement a feature on a platform we'd prefer or not. Which will largely be driven by demand. I don't know the demand for paying Linux customers for Dropbox, but I bet Dropbox does. And they'll ultimately make the decision to proceed or not.

I think what is most helpful is simply telling them we're interested and getting others who also want the feature to do the same.

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tomcho  wrote:
... Since posting the comment I learned that what I thought was smart sync was actually selective sync (which *is* simple and *is* available for Linux). The customer support person I originally asked this either did a very bad job at explaining to me what's what, or was as confused as I was. In any case, she was the main source of this confusion for me. ...

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😆😁🙂 tomcho That's something normal for Dropbox support. Many times on my questions they demonstrate complete unfamiliarity with the product. 🤷 That's it.

stuckjFor sure APIs on different platforms are different. The main question here is proper application design. Once there is such, the matter is adapting/encapsulating APIs specifics and their isolating from the application main design. If there is opposite design, application based on particular API set, then it becomes matter of huge work and adaptation on porting to another API set. Unfortunately, seems Dropbox application' developers accept second way! 🤷 Seems you too: "While there might be some code re-use, there's a lot that can't be.". If so, this mean very bad application design! As seems to be.

About the "published API", it's a subset available for the application, from one side. From other side, most users are not developer and want just to use the service, not to work for Dropbox. Don't you agree?!

Of course there is another point related again to the application design. Do you really want "Smart Sync" to be ported in the form it is? The feature is example of a bad design at all. Lot of troubles on platforms where it's available! I don't think Dropbox will change the way application/features design gets made.

stuckj Since posting the comment I learned that what I thought was smart sync was actually selective sync (which *is* simple and *is* available for Linux). The customer support person I originally asked this either did a very bad job at explaining to me what's what, or was as confused as I was. In any case, she was the main source of this confusion for me.

Anyway I'm also a programmer and I agree that smart sync isn't trivial to just port to Linux. It's still a letdown though, because I know it *is* possible and from the amount of people in this thread apparently there's demand.

I'd also love this feature. My primary OS is Linux.

But...as someone with a couple decades of development experience I can tell you that doing this properly is not simple. Claiming this is a "simple" request in your comments is not helpful. The file system APIs between Windows, Mac, and Linux are different. While there might be some code re-use, there's a lot that can't be.

They'll only do this if they determine there is enough demand to justify it. Upvote and give constructive comments instead of stuff like "C'mon Dropbox, this is easy". 😛

Also, they have a published API so if you have development experience you can also try your hand at writing this and you can discover that it's not easy. 🙂

Please add this feature to Linux. It's a big let down to be a paying customer of this service and not have this very useful feature.

Smart Sync is a very useful feature, especially with larger drives with a lot of infrequently accessed files. The feature is available on Windows and macOS, but not on Linux.

Dropbox's Linux compatibility is one of the most important features IMHO and I feel that Linux users are a bit left behind. Why not spare us some technical love and give us some new features?

Dropbox Linux Client have  a lot of small problems but, it's for another ticket. :)

The smart sync feature is a desired feature for space restricted Linux systems.  If there was a means to mount the online only dropbox folder for the linux user home directory by default that would also be desired with smart sync.  Thanks

Linux still waiting.

Agree. That's the only very useful feature to be added to the linux client...hopefully soon but three years have passed...don't hold your breath :)

@Dropbox

When will you finally get this done?

We are not asking for so much.

We want Smart Sync for the main distros of Linux!!

I pay for it. Please.