Best practices for using symlinks (symbolic links)

[zephyr707]

Hi there,

I use dropbox on linux with symlinks, but am not sure which is the best/preferred way to use them. Is there a best practice for using this type of configuration?

Currently I use symlinks in my home directory that point to the actual folders in my Dropbox folder, but I have heard of doing the inverse: placing symlinks in the dropbox folder pointing out into the home directory. Are there pros and cons to symlinking from the Dropbox folder to the home directory vs. placing a symlink in the home folder linking to inside the Dropbox folder?

What happens during a catastrophic failure triggering a need for data restoration, which method is preferred? Is there a way to dynamically create links for new entries (like .* folders)? Is there an advantage/disadvantage to using soft vs. hard linking?

Any links/posts with regards to the above would be most appreciated. I acknowledge that Dropbox does not fully support symbolic links, but find them so useful I am committed to using them.

Thanks in advance!

[prophetofcs]

Before Dropbox changed it symbolic linking policy, I would add a symbolic link to my Dropbox folder. Dropbox would automatically upload a file whenever I added or changed it that folder. However, Dropbox has changed this feature. Therefore, I no longer need Dropbox. I can use OneDrive if I have to manually put my files in a separate folder to be synched.

[malikjfernando]

Thanks @niazy  would like some guidance on how you removed the existing desktop folder from the Mac Catalina home directory. I don't seem able to. Did you create a new desktop folder in Dropbox folder and move that locked symlink to the Mac home folder? After a restart would that delete the original desktop folder in the home folder? I'm nervous to experiment too much!

[malikjfernando]

Terminal didn’t allow me to create a symlink from the newly created Desktop folder in Dropbox to the home folder saying Desktop exists. So I created a link to my desktop and tried to drag it to home folder.  It didn't allow me saying - “Desktop” can’t be modified or deleted because it’s required by macOS.

[Marcelo4]

Dear Niazy,

I am trying to implement your suggestion, but I find that upon creating Desktop as a symbolic link, when I bring up "Get Info" the "Locked" box, as well as everything else, is greyed out and not modofieable. Have you experienced that? I have Catalina too. 

Thank you, 

Marcelo

[TLA2c]

Why is this marked solved? It is still broken.

[malikjfernando]

yes no joy, really need to be able to link Mac OS Catalina desktop folder to Dropbox to be able to retrieve files from iOS as before

[lopesgui]

Dear Marcelo4,

I had the same issue with the greyed check box. I solved it by locking the folder where the symlink is inside. In my case, I locked my user folder. So far it's working. After restarting the system it stoped deleting my symlink and messing things up. I just hope I won't have problems by locking my own user folder on Mac. lol

Hope it works for you too.

[jsparks]

This sounds like an edge case, as plenty of users used symlinks the old way without the high CPU or missing file issue.  Using ~/Dropbox as the working directory does not fit all use cases.  Dropbox as a backup solution has been completely broken with the decision not to support symlinks.  Dropbox could fix this by having a selective backup option in the mac app (not selective sync, selective backup), but as it stands now, Dropbox is now useless for me and all those that used it as a backup solution.  This was a bad move on Dropbox's part and has forced me and others to seek out other providers.

[TLA2c]

Agree, am in exact same boat - I have several things I want to keep backed up / off site, where the actual data directory can't be under my user profile / dropbox folder. Symlinks allowed this to work perfectly until blocked.

[jsparks]

I'm currently doing an initial sync with Backblaze.  Will post here how my experience is after I have a chance to kick the tires a bit.  No symlink support, but it backs up everything with unlimited storage and allows you to create links to send other people to download.  I suspect that will be enough to satisfy what I mostly need it for.