Move socket file out of $HOME directory tree

[timor]

On systems where you cannot create socket files in the home directories, nautilus-dropbox currently does not work correctly. This is e.g. a common issue with some network file systems. Specifically, it fails to create the command_socket file here: https://github.com/dropbox/nautilus-dropbox/blob/master/dropbox.in#L667

As mentioned in #5, it would be good if one of the XDG locations (probably $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR) could be used for that.

[nipunn1313]

Hi - thanks for the report.

Unfortunately, we don't really support Dropbox functioning in network filesystems (see https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/system-requirements).
Is this an issue that comes up on one of Dropbox's supported configurations?

The XDG solution does sound like it would sidestep this problem.

[timor]

The requirements specify that the Dropbox folder must be on an ext4 file system, and does (rightfully) not specify which file system the user's home directory must have. I already moved the Dropbox folder to a non-network drive, so yes, I consider that a configuration which is claimed to be supported.

One could rather argue that the current Dropbox solution sidesteps the freedesktop specification, as I am pretty sure that the supported linux distros follow that specification.

[nipunn1313]

Hi - thanks for clarifying. My mistake. You are right - it's the file system of the Dropbox folder that fits in the requirements.

Yep, this does sound like an issue that would be solved by #5

Dropbox stores some information within ~/.dropbox and unfortunately it would be a very challenging change to move all of it to use the XDG specification (#5). There's a lot of stuff that depends on the .dropbox location.

It might be more viable to just move the command_socket in the presence of the XDG environment variable. That fix would be much more targeted. Would that solve your immediate concern?

[timor]

Yes.

[timor]

Is there any update on this?

[nipunn1313]

Unfortunately no update as of now. Will keep you posted!