Show HN: EteSync – Secure and journaled sync for Android | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: EteSync – Secure and journaled sync for Android

etesync.com

41 pointstasn18 comments

Hi everyone, author here.

As it says on the website, EteSync is a secure, end-to-end encrypted and journaled personal information synchronization for Android. I created this project for two main reasons. The first is that I'm very privacy conscious, and then second, is that I version control almost all of my data, and I really wanted to version control this as well. Think Git for your contacts, calendars and etc.

Feel free to ask me anything, and please share any feedback you may have.

In addition to general feedback, I also have two specific questions: 1. Does the website easily explain what EteSync does? Even to less technical people? 2. I'm still trying to come up with a short tag-line that represents what EteSync is. My current favourite is: Full history, fully yours, only yours. But I feels a bit wrong. Can't explain exactly why.

P.S. both client and server are open source.

Is it possible to self-host the server and point the client to it (straight from Play store, without rebuilding it?)

Unfortunately not at the moment, though changing the client is pretty easy (one line change in Constants.java).

To the layman I am fairly confident they will have no idea what journaling is and why they may want it. Many people would probably find it useful if it is a more or less seamless thing that happens. I know in the past I have updated the wrong number and would have liked to see the change history.

The other thing which I think will be a barrier to entry for most people is having to export your contacts/calendars and import them. For android couldn't you get the contacts permission and copy them? Obviously that should only be an option as depending on the privacy level of the user they may rather import only.

Final question is do I just use my normal contacts and the app catches and saves all my changes or do I have to keep importing them or do I have to just use the etesync app?

I agree about journaling. I'm not a huge fan of the word, but it's the best one I managed to come up with. I tried emphasising it on the main page, hoping it would clarify the meaning, but it's still a problem.

Export contacts/calendars: I feel the same. Currently there's only import from file (and a faq entry on how to export to vcf/ical). I even almost haven't published it to HN today, thinking I should wait until I finish import from other accounts, but decided against it in the end. I hope to have it ready in the coming days.

As for your final question: EteSync is a sync adapter, which means it seamlessly works in the background with your existing contacts and calendars app. Everything is automatic and seamless. Unfortunately I still haven't found an easy way to convey this to users. I would like to add a "first run guide", but I don't want to hit people with a wall of text, and regardless, I want people to know about it before they even consider downloading. Please let me know if you have some suggestions on how to explain this to users without making it a burden. There's also a user guide in the app/website, but I don't think that's good enough.

Thanks for your feedback!

How does it compare to other sync apps? Especially those connecting to standard ical/webdav servers

Maybe add a table comparing the other apps to etesync

End to end encryption and all the changes are logged in a secure journal are two major differences.

I have a short FAQ entry comparing it to other solutions, but it's far from exhaustive. I'll take a look into expanding it. Thanks!

Can you and the Lexi guy add Screenshots to your Website so one get's a feel for what your App looks like :)

Fair point, will add some. Need to think if main page or a screenshot page.

In the meanwhile, you can look at the user guide (link at the top right) for a general impression, though since it's a sync adapter, you actually almost never interact with EteSync's UI.

Great job!

A+ for having the fdroid install.

Have you looked at sandstorm.io for self hosting support?

I like your landing page. It's fairly clear the values your offering but I'd expand on what clients you are going to end up using after migrating etc.

"""It seamlessly integrates with Android so you won't even notice you are using it."""

Might become

"""It seamlessly integrates with the current Android calendar/phone/contacts applications so you won't even notice you are using it."""

Nicely done. I think it definitely is an area that needs this or something very close to it.

Thanks. :)

I haven't looked into sandstorm yet because while I want to let people self-host if they want, it's not a priority for me. I'd rather use every free moment I have to improve the app, and because of the end-to-end encryption, the added security/privacy is negligible.

Rewording: using the word "applications" is a good idea, thanks. I need to see how to reword it exactly, but that may just be what I need.

Sandstorm does additionally protect people (and you) from your business model changing, "self hosting" is a pipedream for most people without sandstorm.

I think journaling is an ok word for what its worth. You might add some actions that people can do with it however ie "you can replay and review any changes". Its a great feature its a question of lighting up their brain the right way.

Oh, I like replay and review! My brain was stuck on Git lingo, like show and revert, though these seem much more natural.

I agree with your comment about protecting people, this is one of the reasons the server is also open source. Though I believe that if the need arises and demand is there, either myself or someone else will make it happen, and I already share all the tools (code) to make it happen, so people are protected.

Hi, i have a similar app, which is free. I see that your app needs access to the Android contacts and calendar. I didn't want that for mine. I wanted something totally independent, secure and encrypted - but also sync across platforms including desktop.

I like to be able to make notes and calendar entries whilst I'm at my desk, then take them with me. I don't want to access my private notes from within a browse.

https://lexiy.com

It does, because that's a requirement for managing those seamlessly, through the existing contacts/calendar apps. Anyhow, it's open source and all the networking code is very self contained (so it'd be easy to review) so it's easy to verify the security.

I think we were striving for a similar result, but have different requirements, for example you with the permissions, and me with the app being open source.

As for EteSync: desktop support is planned.

You can promote your app in the comments without being a jerk. You know that, right?

Why was this removed from Show HN? Looks like a really good project to me.

Edit: Never mind seems like its still there, it dropped all the way down to the bottom for no reason though.

Hi,

Thanks for the kind words. I'm also trying to figure it out. It was on the main page and top of show HN, and then a moment later is disappeared from both. :(

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