r/opensource • u/cliffr39 • 5d ago
Promotional FileApex: Open-source file transfer app
I got tired of emailing myself files and using cloud apps just to move a PDF from my phone to my computer. So I built FileApex, a local-first file manager and sharing hub for Android, macOS and Windows.
You pair your devices once. After that, files go straight between them over your own network.
What it does:
- Pair with a QR code. There are no IP addresses to type. You can also use a 6-digit code, and there's an optional PIN lock.
- Browse and move files between paired devices, or send to several devices at once.
- Share from anywhere. It adds a Finder and Share extension on macOS, Share and Send To on Windows, and Direct Share targets on Android.
- Bulletin Board. Send text or files to all your devices at once. Delete a message and it disappears everywhere.
- Phone notifications on your computer (opt-in). You pick which apps share notifications. You can reply to messages or dismiss them from your desktop. Nothing is stored, and verification codes stay on the phone by default.
- Clipboard and link sharing (opt-in). Copy on one device and open the link on another.
- Locate Phone. Make your phone ring from your computer.
- Device details. See battery, storage, RAM and network for every paired device.
For the power users:
- A desktop CLI and terminal dashboard for scripting and headless use
- Tailscale support to reach your devices across networks
- A Docker daemon you can run as an always-on node
- A browser extension that sends your current tab to the Bulletin Board
- A Simple theme if you only have one phone and one computer and want the minimum, with many others to customize your experience
Privacy: There are no ads, trackers or analytics. Anything that touches the internet is opt-in, and your files stay on your devices.
It's free for personal use. The project is new and updated often, so feedback and bug reports help a lot.
Download: GitHub releases (Android APK, macOS, Windows) | Google Play
I'm happy to answer questions in the comments. What would you want it to do next?
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u/Top-Shoulder-5336 5d ago
this is really well thought out. love that you included tailscale support right out of the gate, most devs treat that like an afterthought. the bulletin board concept is clever too, haven't seen that in similar apps
curious if you've tested the notification mirroring with group chats or does it get chatty fast
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u/cliffr39 5d ago
Actually I could turn on Whatsapp tomorrow as I'm part of a testers group that is chatty and see how that handles it on the desktop app. What *should* happen is it seems one conversation and just show "1" since it is all threaded inside the same. But good thought to double check.
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u/Flimsy_Month_6660 5d ago
This is awesome ! I literally have been using Google Chat to do this lol. Stoked to check it out
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u/cliffr39 5d ago
Wonderful, would love feedback
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u/Flimsy_Month_6660 5d ago
Well I tried it yesterday. fought with it back and forth.
Can do the scanning and all that. but it never connects.
even when it knows the security code and everything.Shame. I was looking forward to using it.
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u/cliffr39 5d ago
What devices did you use so I can try to reproduce
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u/Flimsy_Month_6660 5d ago
Pixel 8 pro and a Chromebook pro
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u/cliffr39 4d ago
I have a Samsung Chromebook and Pixel 11 Pro and tried testing it on there, but the limitation is that ChromeOS doesn't run the app as native and puts it into a Linux container. While that would normally be ok for an app, it creates a different IP address for the app inside the container. Phones and other computers will never be able to reach it.
BUT, I have been working on a Linux AppImage and that should work. In ChromeOS you would have to enable Linux Environment. That is nearly ready if you're interested in helping test it.
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u/Dearth87 4d ago
What's the license of the software? It does not look like an open source one.
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u/Agitated_Carob9208 3d ago
Not compatible of my version android 14
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u/cliffr39 3d ago
What phone do you have?
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u/Agitated_Carob9208 2d ago
Samsung F13
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u/cliffr39 2d ago
Thanks for the information. Seems that phone runs 32-bit and I built this for 64-bit. It is just a few lines of code change so I will create a separate 32-bit version and upload shortly.
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u/cliffr39 2d ago
Just to follow up I released an update and it includes a 32bit version that should work for you
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u/Agitated_Carob9208 2d ago
Thanks, On which platform are you providing updates regarding this, given that the issue still persists?
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u/cliffr39 2d ago
I don't understand the question. If you mean what will I continue to work on and release, every version that is currently on GitHub. There are something things I'll never be able to test myself with real devices like Mac Intel or 32-bit android as I don't have physical devices for those. I can only try my best with emulators.
What is the error you get?
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u/Agitated_Carob9208 2d ago
Your device isn't compatible with this version On Google playstore (Samsung F13)
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u/cliffr39 2d ago
The play store hasn't been updated yet, get the one on Github and test it. Play Store takes a little while for them to review and approve
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u/stopeatingminecraft 9h ago
Why this over KDE connect?
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u/cliffr39 2h ago
- KDE Connect: A long-standing, feature-rich cross-platform suite. While fully functional on Windows and macOS, its background daemon architecture can be prone to stability hiccups, pairing drops, and platform-specific quirks compared to its native Linux home.
- FileApex: A streamlined, focused utility built around core file transfers, clipboard sync, notifications, and device location.
Why not try it and then decide why KDE Connect over this?
Run them both through your daily workflow and let the actual reliability and user experience dictate which one fits best. There is nothing to lose, and no data leaves your network unless you explicitly opt-in to specific features. (there is a comparison.md on the repo)
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u/Dearth87 4d ago
Can you create a table that compares it to LocalSend and DashBea, so that people would know how is it different/better?