Comparison between CmisSync and Alfresco Desktop Sync

[nicolasraoul]

CmisSync and Alfresco Desktop Sync share the same goal: Sync Alfresco to your desktop.
So, what are the differences?
We investigated the details, and created this side-by-side comparison:

Comparison between CmisSync and Alfresco Desktop Sync

Feedback welcome!
If you want us to compare on other aspects, please let us know 🙂
We are aware that the table looks a bit harsh for Alfresco Desktop Sync at the moment, probably because Alfresco Desktop Sync has not been updated for a while, and because we are more familiar with CmisSync (we make it!)… anyway if we made any mistake don't hesitate to let us know, thanks in advance!

Cheers!
Nicolas

[mrogers]

Good stuff!

The next version of desktop sync is a very different beast but has been in "development hell" for far too long.    I watch with hope and interest both projects.

[mnbrecher]

Hi mrogers

Is there a release date planned for this?

My biggest issue with CmisSync is that it's about the same price as Dropbox Business per user, if you want to have the features that make it a better option than Dropbox.

[mathias_lin]

1,5 years later since the last announcement that there is a sync in the making, and Alfresco still hasn't released anything. I doubt that there will ever be a decent desktop sync. It was talked about and anncouned endlessly, it was announced on the partner day in Frankfurt, and nothing happened.

The last desktop sync Desktop Sync for Alfresco download | SourceForge.net is of 2012 (latest update). 

[marc_dubresson]

Hi Mathias,

Indeed the Desktop Sync project started some time ago with a Java client and direct connection to the repo. After the release of the beta (last release 2012) that path did not prove reliable or scalable and an effort to rework the project in the following months did not work either. So we decided on a different approach, going for native clients and a more scalable server side architecture including a sync service. This was a big effort, on a seemingly simple task (syncing)  with complex problems (i.e. handling the "file shuffle" of Microsoft applications and detecting conflicts), but I am happy to say that we are in the very last phase of development and testing with early adopter test sites currently running the solution. So watch this space and if you happen to be at the Partner Day in Brussel next week please don't hesitate to come and have a chat with me.

Regards,

Marc Dubresson

Alfresco

[mathias_lin]

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to it. I won't be at the Partner day this year, but will follow up on here and the other Alfresco channels.

[marc_dubresson]

Hi Mathias,

Happy to say that Alfresco Desktop Sync for Windows V1 is now available from the Alfresco Support Portal. We're working on the Mac native client, which will be based on the same core as the Windows client.

Regards,

Marc Dubresson

Alfresco

[mathias_lin]

Hi Marc,

thanks for the update.

Why is it only available in the support portal? Does it mean, it's only available for paying customers with a support contract? If so, why not make it open source?

Regards,

Mathias

[marc_dubresson]

Hi Mathias,

Yes, at this stage Alfresco Desktop Sync is included with Alfresco One. Our resources are now dedicated to our next priority, the native Mac client. We may open the code after that but it hasn't been discussed yet. The current alternative for a published sync project is obviously CmisSync towards which we have directed enquiries for example when specific encryption customisations are required.

Regards,

Marc

[kirkokuev]

When?