this post was submitted on 30 May 2026
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Where did the dust settle on Syncthing Fork? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 3 days ago by psycotica0@lemmy.ca to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world
46 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hey folks! I know a while back there was a kerfuffle because syncthing-fork for Android went dark, and then a new person showed up and claimed everything was cool and they'd been privately given the keys or something, and people were concerned. I pinned my fdroid version to the at-that-time-current release until we got clarity.

Well, it's been a while and I just noticed I'm still on that old release. So... how'd it turn out? Do we like the new person yet? Is there a promising fork y'all are using? Or is the project dead? I'm sure I could just go look at the repo, but I'm also sure the repo would tell me "yeah, we're all cool" no matter what, so I'm curious what the community feelings are. Have there even been any useful new releases since then?

Thanks!

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[–] IanTwenty@piefed.social 127 points 3 days ago (5 children)

F-droid themselves gave an update in April:

https://f-droid.org/en/2026/04/03/twif.html

If you’ve been holding off updating Syncthing-Fork we have two pieces of news for you. First, the original dev continues to collaborate still, we know this was a pain point back then. Second, we’ve just added BasicSync, A simple app for running Syncthing, which just controls Syncthing’s running behaviour as hands off as possible, while the original service hums in the background.

So it seems since the handover things have settled but there is also a new fork which takes a more bare-bones approach.

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

First, the original dev continues to collaborate still,

I don't think that means much. didn't the new maintainer say they were given access to the original maintainers account?

[–] black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 41 points 3 days ago (2 children)

This is amazing. So what you're saying is that the answer is that there are now three separate syncthing apps, which are all similarly functional and in collaboration with each other?

[–] sbeak@sopuli.xyz 20 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Two built for Android, Syncthing-fork and BasicSync, and the latter is meant to be less featured and simpler (or basic! Wow, it's in the name!)

And the third is the desktop service for Linux, Windows, etc. Technically, you can install the Linux one with Termux or similar on Android, but it's a little jankey. It is possible though, as somebody else has already mentioned!

[–] jobbies@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So... what is the proper way to get syncthing running on Android?

[–] sbeak@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 days ago

I personally use Syncthing-Fork. It works well enough for me, but I know a lot of people run it through Termux. Haven't tried it myself though, so unsure what the limitations are. BasicSync is also new to me. There isn't a "proper" way, it just depends on your use case I think!

[–] T156@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

There's also Syncthing Tray's experimental android interface. You either need to install from apk, or use something like obtanium, but it may be less flaky than Termux.

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

3?

[–] black_flag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I was thinking there was a syncthing in addition to syncthing-fork

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 5 points 3 days ago

I see. Yeah, that was discontinued. The maintainers didn't have time for it.

[–] perishthethought@piefed.social 12 points 3 days ago (5 children)

Man, the BasicSync app has a long list of permissions...

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.chiller3.basicsync/

Why does it need to know my Location?

[–] Star@sopuli.xyz 23 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm using BasicSync since a few weeks, the location permission is completely optional. This is what the app says:

Location permissions are optional and are only needed when restricting allowed Wi-Fi networks. Even if the permissions are granted, they will not be used unless there are allowed Wi-Fi networks configured.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

What a bs permission to have been invented.
It should be it's own special network permission or something but what the hell does that have to do with the general meaning of "location"?.
Just allow the app to see what SSID I am connected to if I want to allow that

Sry for having to endure my rant

[–] psycotica0@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Yeah, like other people covered, it's unfortunate but also very important. It's easy to tie "visible wifi networks" to "surprisingly precise location on globe" in many places, so the permission is named for the worst case scenario. Yes, the app might just be looking for a wifi, but it also could use that same information to locate you, so it's the location permission. Sensible.

If they wanted to support just this one feature without requiring a location permission, they could maybe have an API that is "are you currently connected to this opaque token" API where the app can ask "am I connected" and is just told "yes" or "no". That's probably safe enough. And then I could register the app with my wifi without the app even knowing what my Wifi is, it just gets a unique but random string.

The same is true of bluetooth. If I can list nearby bluetooth, I can see that speaker and this TV and guess location. But there could be an API that hides that, there just isn't currently

[–] theparadox@lemmy.world 19 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

It's actually a bit informative. I believe Android approximates location using the SSID/WiFi information, so it's not just network that it's used for.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hm...Still so.
It should be its fully own permission to allow even if it belongs both to location and networking.

[–] theparadox@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think the idea is that it is not something separately securable? I don't disagree, I'd like to be able to disallow any app not explicitly granted permission to use any method to determine my location. Unfortunately if Google can scan WiFi and figure out your location, anything with access to WiFi can too maybe?

I don't know. I love technology but this fucking surveillance state situation is really getting to me. Routers using WiFi signal passing through your body to identify and locate you regardless of whether or not you are carrying any tech and all the other shit I don't know about... ugh.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago

I'd like to be able to disallow any app not explicitly granted permission to use any method to determine my location

Yep. That's what ai want.

[–] tinsuke@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

https://github.com/chenxiaolong/BasicSync#permissions

ACCESS_WIFI_STATE, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION, ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION

Optionally used for stopping Syncthing unless connected to specific Wi-Fi networks.

And location isn't a permission granted by default on install (unlike Internet access), the user has to approve of it explicitly.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Location is such a weird permission...
For example the permission is also needed to find local devices via bluetooth (eyeroll)...
And even then, local device finding is a sub-permission of location...

[–] timochka@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 days ago

I think that's more about telling users though that if they let an apl find local devices, that can be used to deduce your location.

[–] dan@upvote.au 4 points 3 days ago

At least it's open source so anyone can look at the code and figure out why it asks for the permissions.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago

To know if you are on your home network and use direct lan etc, rather than finding a sync relay in the cloud...something like that.

[–] passenger@sopuli.xyz 3 points 3 days ago

This should be top comment

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Looks like I'll have to setup BasicSync. I still don't trust Syncthing-Fork. The way things went down don't give me any confidence it could happen again but worse e.g the dev introduces something like a "fuck zionists" patch that wipes everything if you're on an isralean IP. Then I'd be putting myself in danger for using a VPN or TOR exit node in Israel. Not taking that risk.

Thanks for the writeup.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Source for that?
I don't like that a software with access to my files has logic for this behavior.
I use syncthing as a backup-tool so it would be, let's say bad if it should happen.

[–] JustEnoughDucks@slrpnk.net 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That commenter was using an example of something very bad that could happen if the fork got handed off to someone else again but worse, not something that actually happened

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Whoops. Thanks for pointing it out. Read it as a fact not as an example.

[–] leraje@piefed.blahaj.zone 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I switched from Bitwarden to keepassxc (pc) and keepassdx (android) and installed syncthing (pc) and syncthing-fork (android) to sync the db file a couple of weeks ago - all works fine, no dramas.

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I've been super happy with Bitwarden for years now. But with their new CEO being a big Private Equity guy, I am wary of the enshitification risk.

I've been looking for an alternative that works on both Android and other platforms. I use my phone for a lot of random stuff, so my password manager working on my phone is essential.

Has KeyPassDX been good? Does it work with the same password database as KeyPassXC?

[–] dai@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

KeepassDX is great, works most of the time finding fields in Firefox. Can use biometrics to unlock your database if desired too.

Uses the same databases as I use on my laptop / desktop with no issues.

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Thanks for the feedback!

[–] mlg@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah they use kbdx so it works out of box for both. I think it even technically works for the original Keepass.

Haven't used KeyPassDX much yet outside of some quick tests, but the autofill is really good because it shows up as a slim popup tab option on your keyboard where the typeing suggestions usually go.

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Nice, I'll have to give it a try.

[–] mlg@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Gonna do this soon as well. Used to use syncthing for auto photo transfers and I'm tired of Bitwarden's crappy UI and terrible interop with autofill/autogenerate.

It'll probably never happen due to the nature of KBDX, but I would kill to make a resilient native sync feature so that orgs wouldn't be locked into proprietary vaults which drags you into vendor lock in when one of them starts to tank.

[–] essell@lemmy.world 27 points 3 days ago

I'm currently running the latest version from F-droid, it's doing what it should do. No red flags I can see.

I know the current owner as much as the previous one so no difference for me.

[–] krcr@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I ended up installing Syncthing using Termux following these instructions: https://www.stephenjianu.com/syncthing-android/

[–] matsdis@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I switched to Termux for a while too. It works. But it was a bit too fiddly. (Symlinks and permissions stuff, separate browser window, notification that it is still running, and also I never set it up to start on boot.)

I switched to BasicSync a while ago, can recommend.

[–] AmbitiousProcess@piefed.social 3 points 3 days ago

New one seems fine to me, haven't had any issues with it, haven't been privy to any malicious behavior or past actions that the developers might have done, so personally I find it pretty trustworthy.

[–] Cyber@feddit.uk 2 points 3 days ago

Yeah, I kinda held on to the old version for a while too TBH, syncthing-fork had a problem where I couldn't get it to work the way I wanted it, so I'd gone back to syncthing, then with all the kerfuffle, I just stayed there.

Some time earlier this year I tentatively upgraded 1 phone and a tablet (it's used as slideshow screensaver...) and it all seems to work ok.

The GUI isn't quite as good as the native webUI, but it's still accessible, so all's good.

There was a change in the syncthing "DB" a while ago, so it might take a while to rescan things if you have a lot of small files, but feel confident to change.