The first thing I though when I bought my pogoplug was 'Sweet - my very own Dropbox'.

While it is true that the device allowed me to access my files from anywhere, it was nothing new since I could easily do that using my OpenVPN setup and a simple SFTP mount in Gnome - since the device did not provide me with file synchronisation.

Slightly unhappy with my new shiny device, I said to my self in true spirit of Jeremy Clarkson: 'Dropbox - How hard can it be?'

Since I work with software all day long, I did not want to start a huge project that would take several weeks to finish. I do get feed up with bashing my head against the keyboard during business hours ;-)

After a few brainstorming sessions with myself, I decided on taking the painless approach. This solution would require me to develop the following.

- A client software with the following requirements:
 * Written in Python
 * Uses rsync as a backend
 * Uses inotify for event management
 * Uses GTK (I am a Gnome user)
 * A connection to the server, to receive change events on the server side
    
- A sever software with the following requirements
 * Written in Python
 * Uses Subversion as version control for the files
 * Uses inotify for event management
 * Organises client synchronisations to avoid unwanted file deletion etc.
    
I began with the client software as it would actually yield me something that worked. Even though I would only be able to upload to the server in an automatic manor.

After just about eight hours the prototype was finished. It is a crude version, which so far has not deleted anything that I did not want it to delete :-D

To try it out you will need the following things:

 * Python 2.4 or newer
 * pyinotify (sorry, only Linux support with this solution)
 * pygtk
 * rsync
 * SSH client

To start the software you will also need the following setup:

- Server Files:
 ~/.dropzone/root [directory]

- Client Files:
 ~/.dropzone/dropzone_icon.png
 ~/.dropzone/dropzone_icon_idle.png
 ~/.dropzone/dropzone_icon_sync.png
 ~/.dropzone/dropzone.py
 ~/.dropzone/config
 
The config file should contain the following:

# --------------------------------------------

[global]
server: myserver.com
user: username

[directory]
path: /absolute/path/to/Dropzone

# --------------------------------------------

As you can see there is no password as the software requires you to have password-less SSH access. If you do not know how to do this visit: http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/152 />
Yes and by the way, the myserver.com is not a pogoplug in my case, but it could be. Even though it would require you to have it accessable over the tubes.

Download Dropzone: http://freesoftware.noda.se/ />
If you break something it is not my fault!