Grive: What Is It?

by | Nov 4, 2019 | How-To/Tips, Web

Google Drive is a convenient place to store all your files, especially if you want to collaborate on them and share them with others. Although Drive is a handy way to store documents and other data, it has closed source code. Thankfully, there is now an open-source solution to this called Grive.

Quick Navigation
All About Grive
How to Use Grive
Wrapping Up

All About Grive

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VIA Pixabay

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Grive is an open-source Linux client which you can use for Google Drive. If you have been looking for a Google Drive client to use on a GNU or Linux system, then Grive is what you can use. When you use this client, you will be able to synchronize all the files you currently have up on the “cloud” with your preferred directory and then upload files onto Google Drive. 

Since Google has never come out with a working Linux client to access Google Drive, some coders have taken it upon themselves to create an open-source command-line client to use on Linux systems. You will be able to upload and download files. 

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To get started with Grive, you will have to download and then install it. Once you have done that, you are ready to start feeding it commands.

How to Use Grive

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VIA Pixabay

There are several different options you can use in Grive to perform many tasks you may want to execute. The following is a list of commands you can use within this client.

  • -a, --auth – Requests an authorization token from Google.
  • -d, --debug – Enables debugging messages.
  • --dry-run – Ensures that Grive only detects files which need to be uploaded or downloaded. You will not see any other changes.
  • -f, --force – Makes Grive download a file from Google Drive instead uploading it.
  • -h, --help – Generates a help message.
  • --ignore <perl_regexp> - Ignores files with paths that match the Perl Regular Expression.
  • -l <filename>, --log <filename> - Writes the log output to <filename>
  • --log-http <filename_prefix> - Logs every HTTP response within files using the format <filename_prefix>YYYY-MM-DD.HHMMSS.txt for debugging.
  • --new-rev – Creates updated revisions within the server for any updated files.
  • -p <root_path>, --path <root_path> - Sets the root sync directory to <root_path>
  • -s <subdir>, --dir <subdir> - Syncs one <subdir> subdirectory.
  • -v, --version – Displays the version of Grive you are using.
  • -V, --verbose – Runs Grive in verbose mode and generates more messages than you would usually receive.

Wrapping Up

You now know what the Grive client is and how to use it with Google Drive. There was a long time before Grive came along where you were unable to access Google Drive to upload and download files if you were on a Linux system. Thanks for some good-natured coders, we now have Grive. This command-line Linux client will always be free and open-source, following the GNU/Linux philosophy.

Do you have a Linux system and want to easily upload and download files using Google Drive? Head over to the Grive GitHub and download it today!

Featured Image via Pixabay

Frequently Asked Questions

How to install Grive on Linux system?

To install Grive on a Linux system, you can download the client and follow the installation instructions provided. Once installed, you can start using Grive to synchronize your files with Google Drive.

What are the benefits of using Grive as a Google Drive client on Linux?

Using Grive allows you to access Google Drive on Linux systems, enabling you to synchronize files, upload, and download data seamlessly. It provides an open-source solution for Linux users to manage their files on Google Drive.

Can Grive be used to collaborate and share files on Google Drive?

Yes, Grive can be used to collaborate and share files on Google Drive. It enables users to synchronize files with their Google Drive account, making it convenient to work on documents and share them with others.

What are some essential commands in Grive for managing files?

Grive offers commands like -a for authorization, -d for debugging, --dry-run for detecting changes, -f for force downloading, and more. These commands help users efficiently manage their files on Google Drive using Grive.

Is Grive a secure option for syncing files with Google Drive on Linux?

Grive provides a secure option for syncing files with Google Drive on Linux systems. It uses encryption and secure protocols to ensure the safety of your data during synchronization.

Does Grive support automatic syncing of files to Google Drive?

Yes, Grive supports automatic syncing of files to Google Drive. Once set up, Grive can continuously synchronize your files between your local directory and Google Drive without manual intervention.

Can Grive be customized to fit specific syncing preferences?

Grive offers customization options to fit specific syncing preferences. Users can configure settings such as file types to ignore, automatic syncing intervals, and other preferences to tailor the syncing process to their needs.

Are there any limitations to the file size that can be synced using Grive?

Grive does not have specific limitations on file size for syncing with Google Drive. Users can sync files of various sizes as long as they have sufficient storage space on their Google Drive account.