Replication Technologies for TWiki

See all CategoryReplication topics.

Motivation

ReadWriteOfflineWiki has been a goal for many of us wanting to use TWiki from a disconnected laptop.

A good technology of these would facilitate exchange of TWiki pages between desktops, eliminating the need for a hosted server. Some do continuous synchronization with ftp: an ingeneous bit of coding with one could thus facilitate ReadWriteOfflineWiki.

Options

There may be an opensource replication technology TWiki can layer on. Else an inexpensive shareware on would be good:

• ReplicationUsingUnison contains Martin Cleaver's notes on syncing with Unison.
• ReplicationUsingRsync is a tried and tested (but not documented) setup
• ReplicationUsingGroove
• ReplicationUsingFolderShare
• ReplicationUsingFTP?

Windows Shareware

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c2coff=1&safe=off&q=%22file+replication%22+sourceforge&spell=1 lists a bunch of them

-- MartinCleaver - 13 Jul 2005

CVS (SVN, etc...)

In the past I've also experimented with using CVS as a replication system, and that is actually much nicer to work with - since you gain offline read/write as well as distribution. These days using SVN (or probably SVK) would be much nicer. Despite the potential problems of conflicts, it works a lot better than you would expect. (Rather than replace the RCS store the CVS synchronisation operated side by side with the RCS synchronisation, side-stepping any need to change the TWiki codebase itself)

-- MichaelSparks - 14 Jul 2005

That 'TWikiGuest' contribution was from Michael Sparks, BTW, in case anyone was wondering (as I was).

My own experiences of replication using Clearcase Multisite may be of some relevance. Very powerful, peer-to-peer replication, but rather prone to going belly-up when you least want it to (usually involving a three-hour packet rollback on the morning of the release ).

-- CrawfordCurrie - 15 Jul 2005

I welcome Michael's opinion.

Other replication technologies:

• Synchronizing FTP Files with Perl - http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6686
• Thread discussing some alternatives http://www.misticriver.net/boards/archive/index.php/t-1543.html, http://www.talkaboutshareware.com/group/alt.comp.freeware/messages/362086.html
• http://www.tgrmn.com/web/kb/showall.htm

-- MartinCleaver - 03 Aug 2005