Sync Tomboy Notes Across Computers & OS

Tomboy Note Synchronization Across Platforms

Tomboy is a versatile note-taking application designed for Linux, frequently included with Gnome desktop environments. However, its utility extends beyond Linux, with versions also available for Windows and macOS.

Tomboy stands out as a superior note-taking application due to its inherent simplicity. It focuses on a single function – note creation – and executes it effectively.

A core principle in my view is that note-taking applications should prioritize minimalism. Excessive features can lead to distraction during the note-taking process.

Complex formatting, tagging, and categorization are often unnecessary. Frequently, the primary need is simply to record a thought or task for future reference.

I frequently work across both Windows and Linux systems, as well as utilizing a separate computer at my workplace. The ability to access my notes consistently, regardless of the operating system or device, is crucial.

Delaying note entry until accessing the 'correct' computer can diminish its value. Therefore, I've developed a method for synchronizing Tomboy notes across operating systems and devices.

Setting Up Synchronization with Dropbox

This technique leverages built-in Tomboy features alongside the widely-used synchronization tool, Dropbox. The following steps will enable a seamless synchronization experience:

First, right-click the Tomboy icon in your system tray or panel and select Preferences. Navigate to the Add-ins tab within the preferences dialog.

Ensure the Local Directory Sync Service Add-In is enabled.

Next, configure Tomboy to synchronize notes to a designated local directory. This is managed through the Synchronization tab.

Select Local Folder as the synchronization service and choose the desired folder (for example, "tomboy").

You can either create a new folder within your Dropbox directory or establish a symbolic link from the selected folder to a location within Dropbox. The key is to ensure the chosen folder is synchronized by Dropbox.

The setup is nearly complete. Tomboy is now configured to synchronize notes with Dropbox.

To access the synchronized notes on another device, repeat the process. Install Dropbox and ensure the Tomboy folder is synchronized on the new computer.

Open Tomboy preferences on the new computer and specify the Dropbox folder containing your notes as the synchronization destination. Allow the synchronization process to complete, and your notes will be available.

Important Considerations

For near real-time synchronization, consider reducing the sync interval within the synchronization settings, although this is not typically necessary.

Newer Ubuntu versions offer automatic Tomboy note synchronization through Ubuntu One. This simplifies configuration for users exclusively operating within the Ubuntu ecosystem.

Installing Tomboy on Windows requires the .NET Framework 3.5 and gtk-sharp to be installed beforehand.

Dropbox can be substituted with any preferred synchronization tool. Furthermore, notes can be shared with other users by sharing the "notes" folder via Dropbox.

This method provides a reliable and seamless synchronization experience. A desirable enhancement would be access to notes on mobile devices.

While utilizing the Dropbox public folder allows for read-only access, the notes are not stored in plain text and require the Tomboy application for proper rendering.

If you have a solution for mobile access, please share it in the comments below!

What note-taking application do you prefer? How do you manage the synchronization of your notes?