share a folder on the local network [$165]

[Danielle Foré]

There should be an easy-peasy way to share a folder on the local network. Lifehacker has a rundown of how this is done on Mac OS and WIndows for reference: http://lifehacker.com/5808814/how-to-share-a-folder-over-your-network-for-beginners/all

[Kimmo Siniluoto (robotti)]

This is very needed feature for pantheon-files. Because user could make fast samba shares without wondering with Samba.

[Danielle Foré (danrabbit)]

https://www.bountysource.com/issues/1513543-share-a-folder-on-the-local-network

[Cameron Norman (cameronnemo)]

Perhaps this would work better as a little applet + a contract.

I am wondering about how to ensure samba is there when the app needs it. Should we:

 * install samba and the app by default and make the app depend on samba (definitely no more cds, and we'd top a 1G USB drive sooner)
 * install the app by default and samba when the app needs it (need to hook into PackageKit for distro agnosticism)
 * not install the app by default, and make it depend on samba (less discoverability)

Thoughts?

[davidak (davidak)]

in a folders preferences in the tab "more" is space, maybe this whould be a good place.
left could be the" rights" and right "sharing". if samba is not installed, there could only be a button "install samba".

[Quentin FAIDIDE (quentinfaidide)]

I'm writing this sharing option since yesterday, I choose, as davidak said, to put these options in a folder preferences, but in its own "Share" tab, and I decided to only show this tab if samba is installed, and if you selected ONLY ONE folder at time.
I'd like to have everyone's advices to ensure my way is also the other's devs way and to be sure these are the rights choices. So I'll just ask a few questions:
1_ Should we ask for root password ? I mean, samba is root-only, but sharing needs to be available to everyone, doesn't it ?
2_ Should we also access the "Share" preferences tab thru a rightclick menu entry ? Because user shouldn't have to search this option.
3_ Should we provide minimal config options like the ability to share something in "public", "protected" or "read-only" mode ? Or should we provide a lot of possibilites and a full panel of options ? (Or no options at all).

[Danielle Foré (danrabbit)]

I'm going to unmark this particular report as affecting Files since it has a bounty and I'd like the bounty to exclusively apply to creating a samba shares section in the sharing plug.

[Danielle Foré (danrabbit)]

Attached the beginnings of a folder sharing plug. Looks like it needs some greater technical expertise though. See comments on the MR