Keeping your scientific (or not) data and others safe is a key part of efficient science and work. Here I describe my setup to have my important documents, my research code, my writing versions, etc, all synced on a cloud and on my computers in real time.
Disclaimer 1: I am “grandfathered” in MEGAsync, meaning that I signed up to the service when it offered a greater free storage. I have 50Gb for free but signing up for it now will provide you with 20 Gb.
Disclaimer 2: I am not paid by MEGA, I just describe the setup that works amazing for me.
MEGAsync is a sub-product of the MEGA cloud service, it allows for real time syncing of a folder on your computer, to the cloud folder. Any altered file on a given computer will be updated near-instantly in the drive, and in all other accessible computers. This makes up for several extremely practical uses:
Your files are stored online, so whatever happens to your computer now, you can recover your files. If you get a new computer, just add MEGAsync and you will have all of your files.
Any deleted file ends in the “.debris” folder, meaning you can recover lost files, even months afterwards, including past versions of some of your files.
Perfect computer-switching. I have a laptop that I carry around all the time, its useful in classes, during travels, at home, etc; but I also have a big computer in my lab, for bigger computation and more comfortable work. I can switch between the two computers instantaneously, finding all of my code and datasets where I want them to be.
This is very compatible with coding: your python scripts and notebooks, your datasets and other files are always available at the same location in your file hierarchy. I do not sync my python environments but can access all of my code with no compatibility issues.
Because you can decide which of you cloud folder is synced on each one of your computers, I keep most of my files synced on all my computers, but I only keep my “important documents” synced on my phone. This folder contains pdfs of important things for me, like scans of ID, university transcripts, diplomas, etc, and I can always access the latest version of all of those documents from my phone or my computers when needed.
I sync my scientific paper library on the cloud. I use zotero and make the software pull from a specific folder of my synced folder. I can download a paper on one computer, and access it somewhere else instantaneously.
Keep in mind that your are limited in storage amount, and to a daily quota of file transfer per computer. Keep also in mind that large datasets may need to not be in the synced folder. Finally, if your code generates a heavy files, even temporarily, your transfer quota may exceed.
