tramp-dropbox (was: XEmacs has applied for GSoC)

[Michael Albinus]

[Cc to tramp-devel, for broader discussion]

Steve Youngs <address@hidden> writes:

> * Michael Albinus <address@hidden> writes:
>
>   > Steve Youngs <address@hidden> writes:
>   >> o A Dropbox client.
>
>   > That is -- vaguely -- on my Tramp agenda. Maybe, you can specify your
>   > preferred features to give me a push.
>
> Oh, now you've put me on the spot, I hadn't given it any thought
> yet. :-)
>
> https://www.dropbox.com/developers  is probably the place to start
> though.

I've been there, of course.

The basic actions are clear: implement the file name handler functions
as for every other protocol, as much as possible. Something like
file-attributes, copy-file, write-region and friends. Other functions
cannot be implemented for the dropbox protocol, like process-file and
start-file-process; but those functions are not used in (S)XEmacs
anyway.

The interesting decisions are around synchronization: Should all saved
files be pushed to the server immediately? Should the server be checked
for file changes before a local copy is opened? Do we need local backup
files, or are the revision on the dropbox server sufficient? Shall we
make it configurable, which files to be synced (for example, exclude
local backup files)? Shall we support access to file revisions, via a
new package vc-dropbox? And so on ...

But so what, I shall be able to make my own decisions. Just a kick into
my ass would be helpful to start :-)

Best regards, Michael.