Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Janichsan

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2006
3,058
11,213
SpaceDrive is not really being created for the average user per se. Look at their website. Once it gets going, I anticipate a rather steep subscription tier for the different cloud service offerings.
From its FAQ page (my emphasis):

How will this make money?​


We will offer a range of optional services related to hosting, sharing and backing up Spacedrive data, this is slightly down the line, for now we are VC funded. Spacedrive itself will always remain open source and free.
 

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
34,587
50,268
In the middle of several books.
From its FAQ page (my emphasis):

Our cloud service​

At its heart, Spacedrive will always be open source and free. However, we do offer optional paid services to boost your experience. For instance, with a subscription to our cloud service, you get an encrypted database and preview media backup, file transfer options, ample storage, and backup plans. These are perfect for individuals, teams, and businesses looking for better collaboration.³

Connections between devices in your network are always peer-to-peer, and never go through our servers. We do not have access to your data, and we never will. Our cloud service is completely optional, and you can use Spacedrive without it.

 

Janichsan

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2006
3,058
11,213
And? The keyword here is "optional".
However, we do offer optional paid services to boost your experience.
You won't need their cloud services if you want to use SpaceDrive as local Finder alternative or connect to Dropbox, Google Drive, or whatever other online cloud storage to prefer.
 

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
34,587
50,268
In the middle of several books.
And? The keyword here is "optional".

You won't need their cloud services if you want to use SpaceDrive as local Finder alternative or connect to Dropbox, Google Drive, or whatever other online cloud storage to prefer.
I never said it wasn't optional. I am not here to argue over something so stupid. What I said stands. According to the website, it isn't being geared towards the typical home user. Their goal is to build the product out where a lot of people will want / need to use the cloud offerings. I am done commenting on this Alpha app.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ixxx69

Sarah_Baker

macrumors member
Dec 4, 2023
32
21
Pathfinder is by far the best alternative I have been using. The simplicity of renaming files in bulk is just unparalleled. The normal finder app just lacks simple but intuitive functionalities like this..
 

AZhappyjack

macrumors G3
Jul 3, 2011
9,726
22,884
Happy Jack, AZ
Pathfinder is by far the best alternative I have been using. The simplicity of renaming files in bulk is just unparalleled. The normal finder app just lacks simple but intuitive functionalities like this..
Glad that you like it. I have found PathFinder to be buggy and their support is virtually nonexistent. I've been using QSpace Pro for about 4-5 months now and find it to be a pretty solid replacement for Finder.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tosbsas

svenmany

macrumors demi-god
Jun 19, 2011
2,066
1,339
Glad that you like it. I have found PathFinder to be buggy and their support is virtually nonexistent. I've been using QSpace Pro for about 4-5 months now and find it to be a pretty solid replacement for Finder.

That's exactly my feeling. PathFinder's support was so bad on their forums. As far as I can tell, they no longer have those forums.

QSpace is great. They do frequent updates with new features and fixes. Two bugs I reported were fixed within a month.
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
May 17, 2008
8,359
3,739
Any one noticed those apps are always slower than the finder? Finder is always snappier. Is there a reason for this?

That's exactly my feeling. PathFinder's support was so bad on their forums. As far as I can tell, they no longer have those forums.

QSpace is great. They do frequent updates with new features and fixes. Two bugs I reported were fixed within a month.

I thought in this post you said you will not be using it. So I didn't even give it a second look. Is good?
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
May 17, 2008
8,359
3,739
From SpaceDrive website:

"You start by adding local folders, network locations, and external drives into your data library. Spacedrive will keep its database in sync with the underlying file system, extracting metadata, uniquely identifying files, and generating thumbnails. This allows you to organize and search your library even when the storage locations go offline. A job manager lets you track the progress for each phase of indexing, copy/paste, encryption, media encoding, and more."

Can someone elaborate on this? My understanding that the files already on the disk and the file explorer is just an app to browse them. This one says it will recreate a database of the files?
 

svenmany

macrumors demi-god
Jun 19, 2011
2,066
1,339
I thought in this post you said you will not be using it. So I didn't even give it a second look. Is good?

I was referring to a feature of QSpace called the Desktop. That feature replaces Finder’s Desktop with their own. I leave it turned off.

QSpace has so many features and preferences that you can tweak. And they keep adding more. It can take a while to figure it all out. But, you don’t have to learn about every feature to appreciate those you have. I love it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacBH928

tosbsas

macrumors 65816
Nov 22, 2008
1,271
426
Lima, Peru
Glad that you like it. I have found PathFinder to be buggy and their support is virtually nonexistent. I've been using QSpace Pro for about 4-5 months now and find it to be a pretty solid replacement for Finder.
Same here. QSpace pro wins by far
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
May 17, 2008
8,359
3,739
I was referring to a feature of QSpace called the Desktop. That feature replaces Finder’s Desktop with their own. I leave it turned off.

QSpace has so many features and preferences that you can tweak. And they keep adding more. It can take a while to figure it all out. But, you don’t have to learn about every feature to appreciate those you have. I love it.

will give it a shot again, what worries me is it is from an extremely obscure developer. I kind of like to go with the mainstream
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wheel_D

svenmany

macrumors demi-god
Jun 19, 2011
2,066
1,339
will give it a shot again, what worries me is it is from an extremely obscure developer. I kind of like to go with the mainstream

I worry that it's developed in China, but I don't really have an opinion if that's rational. Certainly LittleSnitch shows connections from that program to Shanghai, but I suspect it's for update checks.
 

I WAS the one

macrumors 6502a
May 16, 2006
880
79
Orlando, FL
I worry that it's developed in China, but I don't really have an opinion if that's rational. Certainly LittleSnitch shows connections from that program to Shanghai, but I suspect it's for update checks.
I wouldn't install it on my Mac. Not because is from China, just for the lack of info about the developer and the source. Basically the version from MAS is different from the one you download and the payment option is weird.
 

I WAS the one

macrumors 6502a
May 16, 2006
880
79
Orlando, FL
I was referring to a feature of QSpace called the Desktop. That feature replaces Finder’s Desktop with their own. I leave it turned off.

QSpace has so many features and preferences that you can tweak. And they keep adding more. It can take a while to figure it all out. But, you don’t have to learn about every feature to appreciate those you have. I love it.
QSpace is essentially a clone of Pathfinder. How does it perform? I left Pathfinder due to numerous bugs and problems. Are the same issues present in Qspace?
 

AZhappyjack

macrumors G3
Jul 3, 2011
9,726
22,884
Happy Jack, AZ
QSpace is essentially a clone of Pathfinder. How does it perform? I left Pathfinder due to numerous bugs and problems. Are the same issues present in Qspace?
Pathfinder is trash... bugs, no support and a subscription model (of sorts)... been using QSpace for several months and find it pretty solid, IMO... it's a clone of all of them in the sense that it's a 2-panel Finder alternative... but better than both Pathfinder and ForkLift, IMO.
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
May 17, 2008
8,359
3,739
QSpace is essentially a clone of Pathfinder. How does it perform? I left Pathfinder due to numerous bugs and problems. Are the same issues present in Qspace?

when you say clone, you mean same design? because same design with better running code it means its superior . But clone as in the same code base, then yes its bad.

I am not developer but I do not get why developers create buggy software, or at least not fix it when the issue arises like Pathfinder
 
  • Like
Reactions: I WAS the one

AZhappyjack

macrumors G3
Jul 3, 2011
9,726
22,884
Happy Jack, AZ
when you say clone, you mean same design? because same design with better running code it means its superior . But clone as in the same code base, then yes its bad.

I am not developer but I do not get why developers create buggy software, or at least not fix it when the issue arises like Pathfinder
I'd be hard pressed to think that any developer intentionally creates buggy software... but coding can be incredibly complex. Any program with more than 50-100 lines of code most likely contains bugs. Sometimes it's complexity and sometimes it's lazy programming. And depending on the complexity of the code (Pathfinder, ForkLift and QSpace are going to be complex code), fixing bugs becomes a balancing act between number of issues, future direction of the platform, manpower and the developers desire to create a quality product. Based on my experience, I'd venture to say that Pathfinder just doesn't care that much.
 

MacBH928

macrumors G3
May 17, 2008
8,359
3,739
I'd be hard pressed to think that any developer intentionally creates buggy software... but coding can be incredibly complex. Any program with more than 50-100 lines of code most likely contains bugs. Sometimes it's complexity and sometimes it's lazy programming. And depending on the complexity of the code (Pathfinder, ForkLift and QSpace are going to be complex code), fixing bugs becomes a balancing act between number of issues, future direction of the platform, manpower and the developers desire to create a quality product. Based on my experience, I'd venture to say that Pathfinder just doesn't care that much.

asking because I saw complex software thats pretty stable. Isn't that what they say about Debian Linux LTS releases? rock hard stability?
 

AZhappyjack

macrumors G3
Jul 3, 2011
9,726
22,884
Happy Jack, AZ
asking because I saw complex software thats pretty stable. Isn't that what they say about Debian Linux LTS releases? rock hard stability?
It's a function of skilled coders and sound logic... clearly it can be done... but my post was in response to "I am not developer but I do not get why developers create buggy software, or at least not fix it when the issue arises like Pathfinder" ... YMMV
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacBH928

I WAS the one

macrumors 6502a
May 16, 2006
880
79
Orlando, FL
I'd venture to say that Pathfinder just doesn't care that much.
I'm unsure if Pathfinder was sold to a third-party company or if the original developers gave up. I had been a loyal customer since the introduction of macOS X! This year, I requested some fixes that were impacting my productivity, and they essentially ignored me. That's when I made the switch to Forklift, and every minor issue has been addressed. The developer truly knows what they're doing.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.