firefox sync and profile through .desktop files (or shortcuts in windows terms)
I have a personal which is named just Firefox a work named Firefox Work and a burner named Firefox NoWork lol
Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
31–40 of 68 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#32I run a linux laptop, which I hook up to a USB dongle and hdmi cable each day. At work it's all sitting there ready.
At home I have a USB hub with all my peripherals which I simply unplug from my "fun personal" desktop and into my laptop. It's all on extension leads so it's at desk level, an easy swap.
I think working between two separate machines would be too much hassle, since I end up with multiple workspaces that persist over weeks in my i3/linux setup.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#33Probably 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…
Yup RDP+Tailscale if your security allows it.
If not, vnc over https is a thing, too (e.g. https://guacamole.apache.org/).
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#34Probably 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…
> There's no good alternatives on Linux Maybe I misunderstand what this refers to but there are RDP software for Linux. I've used remmina [1] on Linux for a few years (now I am using VMWare Horizon at work). [1] https://remmina.org/
I tried a few solutions a few years ago to see if there are any alternatives to MS RDP, but at that time i found them all to be lacking. Mostly remote screen was not as responsive as RDP.
A simple test was to play Youtube video on remote machine and compare results of all Linux solutions with MS RDP. None came close.
I hope things changed in past few years if anyone knows?
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#35It is not what you're asking for, so this is almost off topic but: to send tabs to my Android phone or from there to my laptop I share them manually with KDEConnect. It's Android, Linux, Windows. GNOME too with GSConnect. The rationale is that it doesn't make sense to have on my phone all the tabs I have on my work laptop. It's often not possible too: web apps on customers LANs and VPNs.
KDE Connect works fine on Mac OS too.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#36Use Firefox Sync
Since you mentioned workspaces, also have a look at Floorp. It's based on Firefox but makes the UI more customisable by having workspaces and allowing vertical tabs (without needing another extension).
Floorp is also compatible with Firefox Sync.
I use a a Linux desktop, a window and a Mac laptop, an android phone and an iPad. Firefox Sync works brilliantly across all.
If you don't trust Mozilla, you can also self host your own Firefox Sync server.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#37Since you mentioned that you have FireFox installed, I would encourage you to sign in and use FF Sync. You can even send tabs across and all sorts of things. As soon as you mentioned that you moved to FF, I was expecting you to say that the problem was solved. I've been using it for many years now, it is so smooth that I just take it for granted now.
> Just another thing. Firefox really isn't an option. I'm past struggling with it draining my battery on macOS - no matter how much the devs and users assure me that's not the case and all works great now.Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#38Use Firefox Sync Since you mentioned workspaces, also have a look at Floorp. It's based on Firefox but makes the UI more customisable by having workspaces and allowing vertical tabs (without needing another extension). Floorp is also compatible with Firefox Sync. I use a a Linux desktop, a window and a Mac laptop, an android phone and an iPad. Firefox Sync works brilliantly across all. If you don't trust Mozilla, you…
> Just another thing. Firefox really isn't an option. I'm past struggling with it draining my battery on macOS - no matter how much the devs and users assure me that's not the case and all works great now.Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#39This is what Firefox sync solves (especially with the tab stash extension). I don't know what to do about macos battery life though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#40I have pc and macbook sitting next to each other, connected to the same ext monitor via active hdmi splitter. The pc I use mostly for debugging and testing the application I'm making. The mouse have a 2.4hz-dongle/bluetooth switch, as well as the keyboard, So I'm pretty much able to use the both systems at the same time, and when switching monitor to hdmi from pc, I don't even need to sync the browser since it's available on macbook to the right still. BTW switching mouse and keyboard can be bound to a single hotkey with their software, and switching takes ~1s, for me it makes working with 2 systems in parallel a seamless experience nowadays.