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Synchronization: From the SyncML Protocol to Free and Open Implementations

Submitted by 598b3e71 on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 14:34
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Author(s): 
Patrick Ohly

Data synchronization is still mostly a missing piece in the free desktop puzzle: solutions that are reliable and ready for the mythical Average User just aren't available. This talk presents the SyncML protocol, introduces a newly open sourced SyncML engine and outlines how SyncEvolution is used as the synchronization solution in Moblin.

The talk will include a short introduction to SyncML (or OMA Data  Synchronization) protocol features, limitations and the challenges associated with implementing it. We will also talk about the other things required from any respectable client or server solution: support for common data formats like vCard and vCalendar/iCalendar, data conversion and data merging.

[mystery company] recently made their SyncML engine available under the LGPL. This engine is a production-quality implementation suitable for SyncML clients and servers with full support for PIM data conversion and merging. It is fully functional and could become the foundation for other open source projects. We will outline how the engine works and how it is used in SyncEvolution.

This talk is an invitation to all interested parties to join forces so that the synchronization gap in the open source ecosystem can be addressed properly.

 

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Author bio: 
Patrick Ohly is a software engineer at Intel GmbH, Bruehl. In the past he has worked on performance analysis software for HPC clusters ("Intel Trace Analyzer and Collector") and cluster technology in general (PTP and hardware time stamping, currently included in Linux 2.6.30 prereleases). Since January 2008 he works for Intel's Open Source Technology on data synchronization and more specifically SyncEvolution, his spare time project since 2005. In parallel to his work on commercial, closed source software Patrick has often contributed to free and open source software (including Evolution, mkisofs, doxygen, Roundup, gpsbabel, fcron, UAE) before he started is own SyncEvolution project. Patrick started his love/hate relationship with computers in his teens on the Commodore 64 and (more seriously) the Amiga, for which he wrote both public domain programs (DiskProtection) and shareware (MakeCD). Later he studied Computer Science in Karlsruhe and Edinburgh before working for Nero, Pallas and then Intel.