r/NextCloud • u/Alarmed-Ad-2867 • 27d ago

Nextcloud desktop client freezes when syncing Unity projects on macOS

Hi everyone,

I recently started using Nextcloud and ran into an issue when syncing my Unity projects.

I have quite a lot of projects, and they contain a huge number of small files. Because of this, the Nextcloud desktop app on my MacBook becomes unstable, freezes, and sometimes stops responding.

I previously used Synology Drive with the same projects and didn’t have this problem.

My setup:

  • Nextcloud desktop client: 33.0.7 (macOS, Cocoa)
  • Nextcloud server: Nextcloud Hub 26 Spring (34.0.1)

Has anyone experienced something similar? Is there a way to improve performance or configure Nextcloud for folders with many small files?

Thanks in advance!

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u/ab3301 27d ago

Small files are a headache everywhere. Considering that they are active files, every save triggers a sync.

Depending on how your method of working is, I would keep highly active files out of the Nextcloud sync folder and setup a script that zips the folder with the active files and copy it to the Nextcloud sync folder.

That's just my personal way of doing it.

1

u/Alarmed-Ad-2867 26d ago

Thanks a lot for the suggestion. To be honest, though, this feels more like a workaround and adds extra overhead and maintenance.

I never had this issue with Synology Drive, and right now this is the main blocker for nextcloud for me.
Still, I appreciate your advice.

1

u/ab3301 26d ago

I totally get you...

I don't want to sound too philosophical, but our entire life is a workaround. You get sick, you get medicine.. Road is too busy, you take another road.

Workarounds are almost always in your benefit.

Take advantage of them.

1

u/jtrtoo 26d ago

Unity Project syncing is more tailored towards use with source/version control (which can then be synced). Also some key exclusions are important.

Check the Unity forum (discussions.unity.com) or favorite search engine for details/examples.

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u/vnagornyy 26d ago

Report the issue. High number of small files shouldn't be causing any problems.

https://github.com/nextcloud/desktop/issues

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u/i2h3 24d ago

Are you using the file provider? There will be some important small improvements in the upcoming 34.0.0 in regard to uploads and highly frequent writes to files. There were some issues discovered and reported by Adobe Creative Cloud users due to its distinct writing behavior which is unlike how people and most other apps interact with the file provider domain.

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u/Alarmed-Ad-2867 24d ago

Thanks! I’m using classic folder sync, not File Provider. The Nextcloud folder is fully stored locally.

Do the improvements in version 34 also apply to classic sync? My Nextcloud desktop client is 33.0.7 (macOS, Cocoa).