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> I don't really understand why Apple have done this. There was no official File Provider API or API to show sync icons in Finder when Dropbox started. You use
by oefrha 4y ago
> I don't really understand why Apple have done this.
There was no official File Provider API or API to show sync icons in Finder when Dropbox started. You use FSEvents/kqueue to monitor filesystem changes and do whatever. Some Finder hacks were required to display sync icons. Then official APIs were unveiled, with restrictions.
Given that Dropbox competitors still work outside ~/Library just fine on macOS 13, I’d say it’s Dropbox choosing a restricted API for whatever reason (easier development?).
- kmeisthax 4y agoYou can still use FSEvents/kqueue and Finder APIs to implement a file synchronization daemon. But Dropbox hasn't done that for a while. A few years ago they moved to a kernel extension that exposes your Dropbox as virtual files that are downloaded on demand when you open them. They called this Project Infinite: https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/company/announcing-project-infinite https://blog.dropbox.com/topics/company/announcing-project-i...