[Question] Is it possible to use cloud drive to sync rather than MongoDB Atlas?

[Raibows]

Hi,
I wonder if it is possible to use cloud drive(e.g., dropbox) to sync all the database, including paper files and database.
I think these cloud drives can be easier for users to use than MongoDB Atlas.

[GeoffreyChen777]

No, it’s not possible.

1. Cloud storage services are designed for files, not for databases. They cannot merge conflict and the sync delay usually occurs. For example you modified something on PC A, then you modified something on PC B, but without the network connection. Once you connect PC B with network, how to merge these two databases?
2. We need a powerful database for fast searching.
3. When an APP is reading a database file, there is a file lock. It means that the cloud storage service such as OneDrive will never sync the database file until you exit the APP. So , even if conflict merging does not become a problem, you must ensure that you remember to exit the software in time on any computer. Imagine you forget to close the software on PC B, but leave PC B and go to PC A. You will never be able to access the changes you made on PC B.

[Raibows]

Thanks for your detailed reply!

[fyuniv]

Hi, I wonder if it is possible to use cloud drive(e.g., dropbox) to sync all the database, including paper files and database. I think these cloud drives can be easier for users to use than MongoDB Atlas.

I tried Dropbox, the sync doesn't work automatically if the paperlib app on different computers are running at the same time. However, you can manually resolve the conflict by removing the older .realm file and keeping the latest .realm file as default.realm. Maybe do the same for the .reaml.lock file too.

[GeoffreyChen777]

@fyuniv

It's not recommended to use cloud services like Dropbox to sync the database.

Such cloud services don't know how to merge database files. You need to control the file conflicts very carefully.