Usually, I start development with trying to identify the core problem of the application to be made. This core problem then needs an adequate solution because otherwise the whole app is not gonna work at all. For Portal we need a decent file synchronization engine. I started digging around for some cool algorithms at CiteSeer or Google Scholar. Here is a list of some seemingly relevant and interesting papers:
- What is a file synchronizer?
- What’s in Unison? A formal specification and reference implementation of a file synchronizer
- The rsync algorithm, Tridgell’s Thesis
- Improved File Synchronization Techniques for Maintaining Large Replicated Collections over Slow Networks
- Algorithms for Delta Compression and Remote File Synchronization
This makes a good pile of bedside reading. Well, I’m just kidding. You want to read this hard-core stuff any time during the day but certainly not before going to bed. I’m going to weed through these papers in search for an applicable algorithm or at least for some inspiration. Now I’m off for some reading…




























Martin Ott
SubEthaEditMartin Ott is a Mac software developer who co-founded TheCodingMonkeys, a company determined to produce software that stands up to the Macintosh ease-of-use while solving complex problems. With the release of SubEthaEdit 1.0, his company revolutionized real-time text collaboration. He commits his experience and passion to My Dream App to make your dream come true. Find out more about him on his blog here.
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