If you do not trust traditional file hosting and synchronization providers anymore after PRISM, you may be on the look out for alternatives. BitTorrent Sync, which has been made available as an alpha version for some time now, is such an alternative. The core reason for it being one is that you can use it to sync data between all of your devices without using a third party operated root server somewhere for storage.
While that makes it more of a synchronization client, it may be a valid solution if you just want to make sure that data is available on all devices that you want to access it on.
BitTorrent Sync has reached Beta status today moving it one step closer to the final release of the product. While it is still not recommended to use it in productive environments without backups and such, it feels really stable at this point in development.
The main feature introduced since our BitTorrent Sync Alpha and Android alpha reviews is file versioning support. This means that old file versions won't be just overwritten or deleted anymore, but moved to the .SyncArchive directory instead of the installation from where they can be accessed again.
The program creates copies of old files only if they do not exceed a maximum file size defined in the advanced preferences of the client. Select Preferences > Advanced and there the max_file_size_for_versioning value to change it from 1000 (I suppose that is Kilobyte) to another value.
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This can be useful if you sync large documents that exceed the size regularly. Another interesting value that you find here is the max_file_size_diff_for_patching value. This speeds up transfers of smaller files by "patching" them instead of transferring them in full. At least that is what I think it does, as there is no documentation right now explaining the preferences.
Old file versions are kept for 30 days by default. You can modify the parameter sync_trash_ttl to change that period.
You can open the SyncArchive folder either from within the client, by right-clicking on a folder there and selecting Open SyncArchive, or by opening the folder on the computer's hard drive manually.
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Several additional updates to the program's core were introduced to the desktop version since the release of the alpha version. This includes fixing memory leaks on Windows, high cpu issues, and several other bug fixes.
The Android client has been moved out of alpha into beta as well. It too supports versioning and saves old file versions in the SyncArchive automatically.
A version for Apple's iOS is in the making according to the developers and should soon be available for users to install and use.
Note that you may need to download the new version from the official website even if you have an old version of BitTorrent Sync installed on your system. This is the case if you are running BitTorrent Sync 1.1.25 or earlier on your desktop.
Closing Words
The introduction of a file history feature is certainly a welcome addition to the program. It is certainly one to keep an eye on, especially since it is syncing files directly between computer systems that you are in control of. As an added bonus, you can also use it to share files and folders with your friends or colleagues easily.
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