Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud services that lets you store, sync, and share files over the Internet. And, with some work, you can use it on your favorite Linux desktop as well.

iles on your desktop PC, your laptop, your iPhone, your … you get the idea. That’s where programs such as Dropbox come in. With these programs, you can back up your files, share them with friends, and keep all your devices in sync. Of this software class, Dropbox is especially popular.

It’s easy to understand why. Dropbox may be simple, but even your aunt Agatha who has trouble understanding the difference between what’s on her PC and what’s on the Internet can use it. Indeed, that’s part of Dropbox’s charm. From a user’s viewpoint, it just looks like another folder. It just happens to be a folder that almost any computer or device you use can access.

Unlike many such programs, Dropbox can be used with Windows, Macs, iPhones, Android-based devices, and, oh yes, Linux.

Since I use all those platforms, but mostly Linux, I really liked this idea. I’m always needing access to one file or another. Google Docs is fine for sharing the gist of word processor files and the like, but if I want to reference a PDF, I’m out of luck. Enter Dropbox.

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