[Tech Advice] Calendar/File Syncing, Programming and Versioning across platforms

[Chromatic Aberration]

Hi all,

Thought that I'll simply ask around here and see what comes up instead of Googling aimlessly and trying out whatever I can get my hands on. My problem is this: I'm currently working on three different PCs: the one in my office running a slightly changed version of Ubuntu 12.04, my Laptop which uses Ubuntu 14.04 with Xfce (Xubuntu) and my main gaming and entertainment rig running with Win 7. Plus I have a smartphone with Android 2.3.6 which I'm likely to replace soon with a high-end model running Android 4.X.

Now, what I want to do is to be able to program (C/C++, Fortran & Python to be specific) and compile efficiently on each machine bar the smartphone, update all files on each machine as automatically as possible and include some semblance of versioning. Plus, I'd like to also automatically update my calendar and any to do lists[footnote]I'm currently using Rainlendar on the Win 7 machine which is primary way of organizing myself and the preinstalled notes on my Android-Phone to write some lists[/footnote] on each machine including the smartphone such that it is updated as well when I make a change on any machine. To do this, I obviously need some pieces of software or shell scripts to allow this - thus I'd like to hear some recommendations on what's best to use and how to efficiently implement all that.

Also tips for good editors would also be great[footnote]I'm currently using Geany on the Linux machines and Visual Studio on the Win 7 machine - I have worked with vim before but found it to be a pain in the arse to use when it comes to handling multiple data files and I severly missed some default convenience in it; Still Geany seems good but I'm not sure how it holds up in the long term, VS is too clunky and vim to minimalistic in the only slightly modified state I used it in)[/footnote]

 

[Albino Boo]

I would like a little bit of clarification

1) Are the PCs all in the same location and how much control do have you over the network? Also is the laptop required to update from other locations?

2). What programmes are you currently using for you calendar and to do list and what email platforms are you using. To be honest unless you need to use a specific programme just use the google calendar via the web and google docs for the to do lists.

 

[Chromatic Aberration]

The two issues are somewhat orthogonal:

For the programming code, use git with an external host ('free git repository' will find you plenty, I'm currently enjoying bitbucket.org). Git lets you attach notes to changes, you can work with it offline and upload to your central repository when you get an internet connection. The only steps you'll need to take are to 'push' your changes to the external repository when you're done working on a machine, and 'pull' them down from the repository when you want to work on a new machine. There really is no substitute for a version control system (numbered zip files don't count!)

Git has a windows client (TortoiseGit: https://code.google.com/p/tortoisegit/) which is very friendly, and similar programs are available in the ubuntu repositories.

If you want to automate the push/pull then you could set up a cron job on ubuntu, or a 'scheduled task' on windows, but you'll need to give each script your git password).

Thanks, that idea sounds exactly like what I need. In fact, I heard about Git before and knew that it was kind of the go-to tool for versioning - but I also heard it's kind of annoying to set up and a co-worker of mine failed with that. Do you have any specific advice or tutorials to look up?

Take a look at QtCreator (www.qt-project.org) for a cross-platform IDE, it's pretty configurable and sees regular updates (that add useful features).

Will take a look at that, too. Thanks again

I would like a little bit of clarification

1) Are the PCs all in the same location and how much control do have you over the network? Also is the laptop required to update from other locations?

The Ubuntu 12.04 is a machine at my workplace and as such on an entirely different network than the rest which I simply use in a small network at home. Best bet, as such, would be to update via the net and/or ssh to the pc at my workplace. Laptop does not necessarily need to but it would be advantageous.

2). What programmes are you currently using for you calendar and to do list and what email platforms are you using. To be honest unless you need to use a specific programme just use the google calendar via the web and google docs for the to do lists.

As said, I'm mainly using a freeware called Rainlendar [http://www.rainlendar.net/cms/index.php] on my Win7 as my main calendar, and just use a preinstalled app called "notes" on my phone to make simple to-do-lists. As for email I do have a google-mail account because of my phone if that's the question. I'll look into the Calendar - if there's an app for my phone that could synchronize between the phone and that calendar that would already do a lot. Thanks.

 

[Albino Boo]

Ok I would tell your tech support people at work what you want to do before you start moving data in and out of their network. They can get funny about that sort of thing

There is git(as mentioned by archiebawled), subversion and mercurial. They all do pretty much the same thing and all have windows clients. You can get free online hosting for all of them but the amount of data is limited and you have to pay for more.

For syncing you could look at http://ntbab.dyndns.org/apache2-default/seite/icalparseandroid.html