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+---
+title: sync with text files
+date: 2010-11-12
+layout: post
+category: log
+---
+
+One of the advantages of Unix applications and services are the OS
+configuration files. Most of them are flat text files. A portable
+solution for any synchronization task.
+
+Storing Data in text files is a unique style originated by the Unix
+philosophy. Those familiar with this can always recall the Unix motto:
+"In Unix everything is a file."
+
+To emphasize on this, here are several principles of the Unix
+Philosophy:
+
+  1. /Small is beautiful./
+  2. /Write programs to handle text streams./
+  3. /Choose portability over efficiency./
+  4. /Store data in flat text files./
+
+In comparison with other bulky encoded solutions to store Data, there
+is always a medium or an interpreter in the process to obtain a
+readable output, for this text files are an open, manegable, lean, and
+light solution.
+
+With the emerging scene of gadgets, specially smart-phones, people in
+the IT and Design industry moved to a complex handle of notes,
+contacts, and files. The need to sync between devices became eminent.
+However, this imploded into a mess of different encodings and file
+schemes. Users went back to a minimalist handle of files. Then came
+the services like [[https://www.dropbox.com/][Dropbox]] and [[http://www.simpletext.ws/][SimpleText.ws]], which became the main
+topic of the IT blogosphere of that time. By now, there is a whole
+market for backup and sync solutions, but the last mentioned have
+maintained a notable position among the paid and the free services.
+
+[[http://www.instapaper.com][Instapaper]] is the name of the new contender. In the same field, but
+with different goal. Instapaper was made as a quick bookmark solution,
+like storing a magazine article for reading later.
+
+I use Dropbox on a daily basis, but I use SimpleText.ws for storing my
+address book along with my calendar file. Instapaper was my handy tool
+for the reading weekends, and became my new companion in traffic and
+long trips.
+
+On Dropbox:
+
+  - Config Files: =.bashrc= - =.vimrc= - =/etc/=
+  - Recent Code: files, scripts and snippets I haven't finished.
+  - Recent Images: Photos and graphics to be uploaded to my flickr account.
+  - School Work: Essays, research papers and other reports. Basically, homework.
+
+On SimpleText.ws:
+
+  - Address Book: Phones, email address and contact information.
+  - Personal Finance Spreadsheet: Believe it or not, CSV files can be used as spreadsheets.
+  - Calendar File: With the use of [[http://search.cpan.org/~rfrankel/iCal-Parser-1.16/lib/iCal/Parser.pm][iCal::Parser]] and [[http://search.cpan.org/~rfrankel/iCal-Parser-HTML-1.07/lib/iCal/Parser/HTML.pm][iCal::Parser::HTML]], I can generate XML and HTML files of my calendar.
+  - Grocery List: Most important thing of the day.
+  - TODO: To-do list
+
+Just to make a point, each service has it own purpose. On another
+note, *never upload important information* like passwords list, your
+savings spreadsheets and such. Always revise and review what is stored
+in your sync service. Keep an eye on the export option that your
+favorite applications use, look for a flat text file export.
+
+A good example is the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument][.odt format]] from [[http://openoffice.org/][OpenOffice.org]]. .odt file
+format like others share a common goal, to be edited by any text
+editor.