I use [Firefox Sync][1] and it works seamlessly. Not sure if you have tried it. [1]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/features/sync/
Used this for a while and it works well. Sounds like what the OP wants, as well.
Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
11–20 of 68 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#12(This is not advice, I certainly would assume there's a better way of doing this these days. There probably was at the time, too.)
I used do this every once and a while. I just maintained a reverse ssh tunnel back to my desktop, because I would set jobs up on it. Anyways, you could - and presumably still can - just query the firefox session store and pull out anything you needed. I don't recall it being painful, but then again - I haven't done it for a few years at least.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#13After years working with two computers, the best setup I came up with is making my main computer run Windows with Remote Desktop and connecting to it via VPN.
Then my portable computer is just an iPad running the Remote Desktop client. Excellent battery life.
As long as the internet connection is reliable, everything works perfectly.
On my home computer I just connect in the same way.
Not having to duplicate the dev environment saves me a lot of time, the only sad thing is I need Windows (and yes I’ve tried many other remote access solutions).
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#14(This is not advice, I certainly would assume there's a better way of doing this these days. There probably was at the time, too.) I used do this every once and a while. I just maintained a reverse ssh tunnel back to my desktop, because I would set jobs up on it. Anyways, you could - and presumably still can - just query the firefox session store and pull out anything you needed. I don't recall it being painful, but…
Actually, I neglected to mention - these days this isn't ever needed likely because I just maintain tailscale/wireguard mesh. I pretty often will use apache guac or a VNC connection if I need to grab something sitting in a GUI somewhere.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#15I just don’t. I work on one of my laptops (Mac or Linux), and ssh into my desktop (Proxmox, mostly running Linux VMs/containers). Keeps my laptop battery happy, solves the browser sync issue, removes the need to git push/pull back and forth the machines, and allows me to do whatever with my laptop (including closing it) while, say, compiling.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#16Probably not going to be very useful to you, but since I use Windows I just use RDP to my desktop computer.
This way I don't care about the laptop. Specs don't matter much, it can get stolen or scanned by border control without issue etc.
I always pick up exactly where I left with zero hassle, don't have to install and configure tools twice etc, and it's virtually "native" feel unless I'm on some very dodgy cellular internet in the mountains or similar.
There's no good alternatives on Linux yet though, which is a bummer.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#17[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#18Both, Safari and Chrome offer tab sync. Safari through iCloud on device and Chrome through browser login.
Chrome works more reliably. Safari has some random reload issues from time to time.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#19I rarely need to sync to my laptop (only when I travel), so when I do I just copy my Mozilla appdata folder over. Works like a charm
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#20I use [Firefox Sync][1] and it works seamlessly. Not sure if you have tried it. [1]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/features/sync/
Not only that, but syncserver can be locally installed so you have an additional layer of autonomy if you want that. (The data itself is already end-to-end encrypted, so it is not really necessary to be exact.)