Linux configuration files are a ache to arrange, particularly when you have a number of computer systems. Through the years, Linux customers have solved this drawback (for essentially the most half) by compressing and importing configurations to numerous cloud storage suppliers. For as helpful as it’s to have an archive of varied Linux config files backed up on-line, it’s extremely tedious to cope with. The developer of Symbolize thinks so too. So, to resolve the issue, he created an app that takes the tediousness out of holding your Linux config files in sync.
The app is known as Symbolize, and with it, customers can rapidly arrange configuration files on a number of machines with the assistance of Symbolic hyperlinks (AKA shortcuts), and Dropbox magic.
Be aware: Symbolize works greatest with the Dropbox syncing utility. Earlier than beginning with this text, please set up the newest launch of the sync consumer. For extra info, take a look at the tutorial right here.
Getting Symbolize
The Symbolize utility isn’t difficult, so it doesn’t want to be constructed utilizing particular instruments and dependencies. As a substitute, customers can both seize it from the Snap retailer with the snap set up command or by grabbing the script from GitHub.
To start out the set up of the Symbolize device on Linux, open up a terminal window by urgent Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. From there, observe the command-line directions that correspond with the way you’d like to run this system in your system.
Snap directions
The Snap methodology is arguably the easiest way to get Symbolize working as a result of it doesn’t require interacting with GitHub. Simply seize the Snap and get on together with your life.
To start out the Snap set up of the Symbolize utility, you should be working a Linux working system that helps the Snap format. For greatest outcomes, go together with Ubuntu, because the Snap runtime comes pre-configured, and no fussing is required. Nonetheless, in case you are not on Ubuntu, you may study all about how to allow Snaps in your Linux PC by following this information right here.
As soon as the Snapd runtime is up and working in your Linux system, use the snap set up command to seize the newest snapshot of Symbolize.
sudo snap set up symbolize
Direct obtain
Not each Linux working system works with Snap packages and the Snap runtime. Fortunately, it’s potential to make the most of the usefulness of Symbolize by merely downloading the script file from the developer’s GitHub web page.
Normally on Addictivetips after we cope with packages on GitHub, we instruct you to obtain the files utilizing the Git app. This time, downloading with the Git app isn’t vital, as there isn’t a code to compile. It’s potential to use the wget command to seize every little thing you want to use Symbolize.
wget
The wget downloader could be very quick, and also you’ll have the script in a matter of seconds. When the method is finished, it’s time to place the Symbolize utility in your path (AKA /usr/native/bin/). To position the script file in /usr/native/bin/, elevate your terminal to Root standing and make use of the mv command.
sudo -s mv symbolize /usr/native/bin/
Subsequent, replace the file’s permissions with the chmod command.
chmod +x /usr/native/bin/symbolize
It is best to then have the option to entry and run Symbolize by executing the symbolize command.
symbolize
Utilizing Symbolize
This app works by taking a file or folder location and transferring it to Dropbox, thus holding every little thing in sync. To find out how to keep your Linux configuration files in sync, do the next.
Step 1: Open up a terminal and run ls -a to decide what config folder you’d like to keep in sync with Symbolize. On this instance, we are going to use the ~/.ssh folder.
ls -a
Step 2: Begin up the Dropbox sync consumer in your Linux PC and make sure that you’re logged into the service.
Step 3: Use the mkdir command and create a sync folder for the configuration files in your Linux PC.
mkdir -p ~/Dropbox/configs/
Step 4: Use the symbolize script to sync your configuration files with Dropbox.
symbolize ~/.ssh ~/Dropbox/configs/
Repeat this course of for every configuration file and folder on Linux that you really want to keep in sync.
Non-compulsory – Load up synced configs on one other Linux PC
One advantage of Symbolize is that it retains your configuration files in sync by placing them into Dropbox. However the actually cool factor about Symbolize is utilizing it to run the identical configuration files on a number of computer systems.
To arrange a number of Linux PCs to use the identical sync files, do the next.
Step 1: observe the steps in “Using Symbolize”, above to get your whole configuration files in sync with Dropbox. This solely wants to be carried out with one Linux PC and never a number of.
Step 2: Log into one other Linux PC with none of your synced configuration files arrange on it, log into Dropbox and sync your files from the service. Then, run symbolize to arrange your configs.
So, for instance, to add the synced ~/.ssh folder from ~/Dropbox/configs/, you’d do:
rm -rf ~/.ssh symbolize ~/Dropbox/configs/.ssh/ ~/
