This interview intends to provide some insight into OpenSync, an upcoming free unified data synchronization solution for free software desktops  such as KDE, commonly used as part of the GNU/Linux operating system.
Hi Cornelius, Armin and Tobias. As you are now getting close to version 1.0 of OpenSync, which is expected to become the new synchronisation framework for KDE and other free desktops, we are quite interested in the merits it can provide for KDE users and for developers, as well as for the Open Source Community as a whole. So there's one key-question before I move deeper into the details of OpenSync:
What does OpenSync accomplish, that no one did before?
Cornelius:
How do the end-users profit from using synching solutions that interface with OpenSync as framework?
Cornelius:
How does OpenSync help developers with coding?
Cornelius:
Tobias:
Why should producers of portable devices get involved with your team?
Cornelius:
Do you also plan to support applications of OpenSync in proprietary systems like OSX and Windows?
Cornelius:
What does your synchronisation framework do for KDE and for KitchenSync in particular?
Cornelius:
What was your personal reason for getting involved with OpenSync?
Cornelius:
Armin:
Tobias:
Can you tell us a bit about your further plans and ideas?
Cornelius:
Armin:
Tobias:
What was the most dire problem you had to face when creating OpenSync and how did you face it?
Cornelius:
Armin:
What was the greatest moment for you?
Cornelius:
Armin:
Tobias:
As we now know the worst problem you faced and your greatest moment, the only one missing is: What was your weirdest experience while working on OpenSync?
Cornelius:
Tobias:
Now I'd like to move on to some more specific questions about current and planned abilities of OpenSync. As first, I've got a personal one:
I have an old iPod sitting around here. Can I or will I be able to use a program utilizing OpenSync to synchronize my calendars, contacts and music to it?
Cornelius:
Armin:
Which other devices do you already support?
Cornelius:
Which programs already implement OpenSync and where can we check back to find new additions?
Cornelius:
Armin:
It is time to give the developers something to devour, too. I'll keep this as a short twice-fold technical dive before coming to the takeoff question, even though I'm sure there's information for a double-volume book on technical subleties.
As first dive: How did you integrate OpenSync in KitchenSync, viewed from the coding side?
Cornelius:
And for the second, deeper dive:
Can you give us a quick outline of those inner workings of OpenSync, from the developers view, which make OpenSync especially viable for application in several different desktop environments?
Cornelius:
Armin:
To add some more spice for those of our readers, whose interest you just  managed to spawn (or to skyrocket), please tell us where they can get more information on the OpenSync Framework, how they can best meet and help  you and how they can help improving sync-support for KDE by helping OpenSync.
Cornelius:
Armin:
Many thanks for your time!
Cornelius:
Armin:
Tobias:
Further Information on OpenSync can be found on the OpenSync Website: www.opensync.org
This Interview was done by Arne Babenhauserheide in April 2006 via e-mail and KOffice on behalf of himself, the OpenSource Community, SpreadKDE.org and the Dot (dot.kde.org).
It was first published on the Dot and is licensed under the cc-attribution-sharealike-license.
A pdf-version with pictures can be found at opensync-interview.pdf (OpenDocument version: opensync-interview.odt)

Share this: 






Got a correction? Add the template {{editprotected}} to the talk page along with your corrections, and it will be brought to the attention of the administrators.
OpenSync Interview - syncing on the free desktop