LightSync is a utility that lets you define various Windows config parameters as yaml files, and apply those configs.
It can install itself as a Scheduled Task and run periodically.
I'm using this script, combined with Dropbox, to sync my portable apps and configs across multiple machines.
This tool builds on the fuctions I published in the useful/PS-Winhelpers repo.
When syncing my portable apps, the 'LSH Apps' Start Menu folder gets created.
The shortcuts have a ⚡ suffix so I know they are the portable versions.
reg: Windows Registryassocs.assoc: File Associationsassocs.verb: File Associations - Custom verbshortcuts: Start Menu Shortcutsrunonce: RunOnce commandsjunction: Junctionssymlink: Symlinkspaths: User %PATH% entriesdropboxignore: Adding certain folders to Dropbox Ignore Listdropboxoffline: Setting certain folders to be downloaded by Dropboxfolders.versionfrom: Setting a folder comment to match a binary's version entryfiles.state=absent: Deleting certain files
For example, if you want to sync 7-zip portable, there's a 7-zip.yaml file already in the ./packages folder.
---
assocs:
- AssocIcon: '{PkgPath}/7z.dll,1'
assoc: ["7z", "gz", "rar", "tar", "tgz", "zip"]
target: '{PkgPath}/7zFM.exe'
friendlyAppName: '{PkgName} ⚡'
folders:
- path: '{PkgPath}'
versionfrom: '{PkgPath}/7zFM.exe'
shortcuts:
- assocIcon: '{PkgPath}/7z.dll,1'
icon: '{PkgPath}/7zFM.exe'
name: '{PkgName}'
params: ''
target: '{PkgPath}/7zFM.exe'
dropboxoffline:
- path: '{PkgPath}'
mode: 'Offline'The script will replace the {PkgPath} and {PkgName} variables with the actual values.
{LSHRoot}is the "LightSync Root" configured during the Install step{PkgName}is the name of the yaml file without the extension. So, for7-zip.yaml, the{PkgName}is7-zip{PkgPath}is{LSHRoot}/{PkgName}
Dowload the portable version of 7-zip and extract it to the "{LSHRoot}/{PkgName}" path:
Directory: N:\Tools\7-Zip
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
da---- 15/04/2023 13:27 Lang
-a---- 27/12/2021 10:00 112890 7-zip.chm
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 93696 7-zip.dll
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 62976 7-zip32.dll
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 1710080 7z.dll
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 535040 7z.exe
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 215040 7z.sfx
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 193536 7zCon.sfx
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 945664 7zFM.exe
-a---- 15/04/2023 15:31 766 7zFM.ico
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 667136 7zG.exe
-a---- 28/01/2018 09:00 366 descript.ion
-a---- 27/12/2021 08:52 54604 History.txt
-a---- 17/01/2021 15:12 3990 License.txt
-a---- 26/12/2021 13:54 1702 readme.txt
-a---- 10/01/2023 13:02 2153 test.exe.lnk
-a---- 26/12/2021 14:00 14848 Uninstall.exe
You'll be allowed to select the list of packages to sync periodically. (ie select which yaml files to auto-apply)
At the next step, confirm your {LSHRoot} path.
This is the path where you will keep all your portable apps.
Note: The LightSync.ps1 script can be located at a different location.
.\LightSync.ps1 -Install
DEBUG: [ LightSync.ps1 ]: Starting LightSync
[x] 7-zip.yaml
[x] ChatGPT.yaml
[x] ConEmuPortable.yaml
[x] EarTrumpet.yaml
[x] FileZillaPortable.yaml
[x] FoxitReaderPortable.yaml
[x] FSViewer.yaml
[x] GitBashPortable.yaml
[x] GoogleChromePortable.yaml
[x] KeePass.yaml
[x] LibreOfficePortable-7.5.2.yaml
[x] LogExpert.yaml
[x] LogitechOptions.yaml
[x] MyTools.yaml
[x] Notepad++.yaml
[x] PomoDoneApp.yaml
[x] PuttyPortable.yaml
[x] PWGen.yaml
[x] Python.yaml
[x] TelegramDesktopPortable.yaml
[x] TotalCmd.yaml
[x] TreeSize.yaml
[x] VLC.yaml
[x] VS Code.yaml
[x] Winamp.yaml
> [ ] WindowsDecrapify.yaml
[x] WindowsTerminal.yaml
Packages : {7-zip.yaml, ChatGPT.yaml, ConEmuPortable.yaml, EarTrumpet.yaml...}
PSPath : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\LightSync
PSParentPath : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE
PSChildName : LightSync
PSDrive : HKCU
PSProvider : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry
Select LightSync drive and path (current: N:\Tools):
DEBUG: Adding N:\Tools\_PACKAGES to User PATH
DEBUG: >> [ Add-UserPaths ]: Paths `N:\Tools\_PACKAGES` already present, no changes needed.
Actions : {MSFT_TaskExecAction}
Author :
Date :
Description : Light User Profile Syncing Project for user Lev
Documentation :
Principal : MSFT_TaskPrincipal2
SecurityDescriptor :
Settings : MSFT_TaskSettings3
Source :
State : Ready
TaskName : LightSync.sh - Lev
TaskPath : \
Triggers : {MSFT_TaskDailyTrigger}
URI : \LightSync.sh - Lev
Version :
PSComputerName :
Actions : {MSFT_TaskExecAction}
Author :
Date :
Description : Light User Profile Syncing Project for user Lev
Documentation :
Principal : MSFT_TaskPrincipal2
SecurityDescriptor :
Settings : MSFT_TaskSettings3
Source :
State : Ready
TaskName : LightSync.sh - Lev
TaskPath : \
Triggers : {MSFT_TaskDailyTrigger}
URI : \LightSync.sh - Lev
Version :
PSComputerName :
An ad-hoc sync of a package file can also be performed.
In this mode, a scheduled task will not be installed.
.\LightSync.ps1 -PackageFile .\packages\7-zip.yaml
All package files can be synced as well:
./LightSync.ps1
I'm using the following process to sync my portable apps and configs across multiple machines using Dropbox.
Just a standard Dropbox install, it can be to any location.
It is a good idea to abstract out the Dropbox sync path, because this often changes between machines.
Subst is a built-in Windows tool that can do this.
eg:
subst N: "C:\Users\Lev\Dropbox\"
You can put this script in your shell:startup folder.
One caveat is that any elevated process will not have access to a substed path by default, unless you also re-run the subst command as admin.
Extract your portable apps under the virtual N:\Tools path.
The folder will get synced by Dropbox.
Clone the two repos into the same parent.
It's best to put these on the N: drive as well, such as the yaml files will get synced automatically.
mkdir n:\src
cd n:\src
git clone https://github.com/levid0s/useful.git
git clone https://github.com/levid0s/LightSync.ps1.git
LightSync.ps1 -Install