BitTorrent Sync

2019-01-21 I don't like any of these . . .

2017-06-22 Now Called Resilio (BTsync) seems easier to use this time I tried it but I think Syncthing is better for me.
(I have found this a pain in the butt to use)
Linking your personal computers and their selected folders is easy with Dropbox. Sometimes it is uncomfortable leaving your files accessible to a third party like Dropbox or those who hack Dropbox. BitTorrent Sync may be a viable solution. This will set up private BitTorrent between computers. I think this is outstanding and much faster than other methods.

It would even be great for sharing large files with others. They will need to be able and willing to use BTSync. If they are not then maybe they don't need the file :)

I installed it on two computers. Let the program install a default folder in the user account and dropped a test file into one folder. I copied the "secret" code into the second install.The file magically appeared in the second computer's default folder. New sync folders can easily be added or deleted.

Under "show folder preferences" a one time code can be created with a 24 hour time limit with full or read only access. This could work for large file transfer to people. It would be easy to drop a new folder containing the file into your Bittorrent Sync and send the code to someone.

No third party server is involved and transfers are stated as being secure. Steve Gibson says it is secure. (go in to about 1 hr 7 min)

Setup is mindlessly easy but I have only done this on a local network as yet and not off site.

Here is a good little YouTube explanation.

Setting up mobile is completely crazy. Install BTSync on the mobile and create a folder. Then create a folder on a PC that is only for things you want synchronized to the phone. When you go to preferences on the PC and select "connect to mobile device" a QR code will pop up. Scan it with the mobile BTSync and the "secret" will be read into the mobile app. I believe you would want a special limited folder for mobile because of the mobile's limited storage.

It would take some planning to handle the storage with BTSync. Unlike Dropbox there is no cloud storage to hold the data and folders can not exist inside of folders. This is a completely cool and effective method of syncing and sharing data.

But honestly, the cloud is very handy and day to day I will still use Dropbox on a regular basis. And BTS for more specialty transfers.