Folder Sync (iCloud, Dropbox, Syncthing)

Sync with Any Folder Provider

Strayfiles works seamlessly with folder sync providers. Just put your notes in a synced folder - no special configuration needed.

How It Works

Your synced folder (iCloud, Dropbox, etc.)
    ↓
Sync provider transfers files
    ↓
Strayfiles watches for changes
    ↓
Index updated when files change

Strayfiles doesn’t care how files got there. It just watches and indexes.

iCloud Setup

Option 1: iCloud Drive folder

[settings]
roots = ["~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/notes"]

Option 2: Visible iCloud Drive path

[settings]
roots = ["~/iCloud Drive/notes"]

Creating a notes folder in iCloud:

1. Open Finder
2. Go to iCloud Drive
3. Create a “notes” folder
4. Point Strayfiles to it

Dropbox Setup

[settings]
roots = ["~/Dropbox/notes"]

Dropbox syncs files automatically. Strayfiles sees changes when Dropbox finishes syncing.

Syncthing Setup

Point to any Syncthing-managed folder:

[settings]
roots = ["~/Sync/notes"]

Syncthing provides:

• Peer-to-peer sync (no cloud)
• End-to-end encryption
• Works on local network or internet

OneDrive Setup

[settings]
roots = ["~/OneDrive/notes"]

Google Drive Setup

[settings]
roots = ["~/Google Drive/notes"]

Or with Google Drive for Desktop:

[settings]
roots = ["/Volumes/GoogleDrive/My Drive/notes"]

Multiple Providers

Use different providers for different notes:

[settings]
roots = [
  "~/iCloud Drive/personal",
  "~/Dropbox/work",
  "~/Sync/shared"
]

Conflict Handling

Each provider handles conflicts differently:

Provider	Conflict Behavior
iCloud	Creates ”… 2” copies
Dropbox	Creates “conflicted copy” files
Syncthing	Creates “.sync-conflict” files
OneDrive	Creates ”… (1)” copies

Strayfiles shows conflict copies as separate files. Merge manually and delete the duplicate.

Sync Speed

Folder sync is provider-dependent:

• iCloud: Usually fast, can delay large files
• Dropbox: Generally fast
• Syncthing: Instant on local network
• OneDrive: Variable

For real-time sync, consider Strayfiles Pro instead.

Offline Access

All providers support offline access:

1. Files cached locally
2. Edit while offline
3. Sync when back online
4. Conflicts resolved by provider

Environment Variables

Use environment variables for portable configs:

[settings]
roots = ["${NOTES_DIR}"]

Set NOTES_DIR on each machine to the appropriate synced folder path.

Tips

Same folder structure: Keep the same folder structure on all devices for consistency.

Avoid large files: Binary files (images, PDFs) slow down sync. Keep notes as plain Markdown.

Check sync status: Before editing on a new device, ensure the sync provider has finished syncing.

Exclude from indexing: If you have large synced folders, be specific with roots to avoid indexing everything:

[settings]
roots = ["~/Dropbox/notes"]  # Just notes, not all of Dropbox
exclude = ["**/archive/**"]   # Skip old stuff

Comparing Options

Feature	iCloud	Dropbox	Syncthing	Stray Cloud
Setup	Easy	Easy	Moderate	Easy
Cost	Free (5GB)	Free (2GB)	Free	$10/mo
E2E Encryption	Apple-controlled	No	Yes	Yes
Speed	Fast	Fast	Instant (LAN)	Real-time
Conflicts	Auto-copy	Auto-copy	Auto-copy	Smart merge
Offline	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

When to Use What

Folder sync (iCloud/Dropbox):

• Simple setup
• Already using the provider
• Personal notes

Syncthing:

• Privacy-focused
• No cloud wanted
• Tech-savvy users

Stray Cloud:

• Real-time collaboration
• Smart conflict resolution
• Team features