FreeFileSync Forum

I completely understand your point of view, buy you guys dont.
All we are asking a warning message if the file is newer, that's it.
Notice that your scenerio is very less probable, then usual case. Usual case; the newer file is %99 of the time the most updated/valid one. Your scenerio is ...

The whole discussion is just about a specific manifestation of the more general problem of the user accidentally corrupting his data.


Dear Zenju,

First off, I want to thank you and all other developers/users who have contributed to make this product available to the public free of cost -- it ...

The easy way to reproduce the situation:
...


Brilliant example evm. Thanks.


But in other side it works according the algorithm - the left side file was [re]created in earlier version by the user and need to be copied to the right side.


If the app is designed only for engineers/techies ...

Your point seems to be, that FFS should be able to protect the user from himself.
But that is more or less a feature of a backup program. JustAnotherUser, 08 Feb 2017, 16:51

That's a difference in design philosophy like I stated. My design philosophy is obviously different than yours.

...and also thought that most people who might vote on a subject like this (if it were ever to happen) would be technically competent. I knew it was not going to happen.
I'm also a software developer, since decades, so "thanks for the flowers"...


@JustAnotherUser
CLARIFICATION regarding ...

Plerry,

Thanks for participating in the discussion as your comments have added great value to the debate.

1. I've understood the copying algorithm you describe but as engineers, we must design systems that are idiot-proof and fail-safe . This algorithm is obviously neither; because it was about to ...

I feel you are wrong in your assessment of the clear IF-THEN statement I provided above.

I bet if people were to vote on such a thing, they would side with my assessment.

Thanks

Again, respectfully submitting to you Zenju --

1. SCREENSHOT. I am referring to the "Synchronize" button on the top right side. You are probably referring to the arrows along the middle that show the direction of copying. Please see the Synchronize button which has small text below it that says ...

Also, if you have written this application or you are a software engineer, you probably know that bugs can occur under very special conditions that are somewhat uncommon in usual practice (say the user set some conditions for the sync using date-time, size and archive bit and set/reset something ...

I am usually far more careful than an average non-tech user since I am myself a hardware and embedded control software engineer for decades and we, by training, are extremely watchful of details like good yourself.

Since I could not believe my own eyes, I repeated the test probably at least 3-4 ...

My respectful reply Please:

I did NOT overwrite newer files with older ones. I just did a simple comparison between my laptop and desktop computers -- and this was the first time. **YOU** need to see the screenshot I have attached above which shows the dates of a file on both sides (the yellow pop ...

"Two-way variant" -- I assume it's for syncing both ways (i.e. if files on A change, then they are copied to B, and vice-versa). And this is likely the most common way people would be using it.

Regardless, it is totally unacceptable for a software like this to copy old files over new. I have never ...

I've just started using this program. Fortunately, I noticed in preview after doing a compare that it was going to copy old files over new ones wiping out days worth of my work !! I would have killed myself for losing so much work.

The screenshot is attached where it says Right Side is Newer yet ...