WebDrive

Greg K's picture

He has: 2,145 posts

Joined: Nov 2003

I am giving this program a try, WebDrive

I have Zend Studio for editing PHP files on the server, where you can do a direct SAVE/OPEN through FTP/SFTP. However, it does get a tad annoying at how it can bog down when it is trying to restablish the connection.

For work, I need to use a secure connection, and the host I use auto disconnects you after 5 minutes of inactivity via SFTP. Even CuteFTP's keep alive system seems to not work...

Anyhow, I came across a thread somewhere, which lead me to another thread somewhere else, that led me to someone recommending this program to be able to map a FTP / SFTP connection.

So I install this and do a test, two files in same directory open in Zend Studio, one via it's built in SFTP connection, one throught the drive letter mapped by WebDrive via a SFTP connection.

I wait 10 minutes, the WebDrive onnection was isntant save, the other had to wait to log in. Now, I'm still checking to see if maybe webdrive just caches the save until it reconnects, but in the mean time, zend seems to respond faster.

Now, here is where it really seems to be faster, using a file OPEN/SAVE dialog box, and browsing around, and creating a new direcotry while doing so. Zend's connection seems to chose a bit when creating a directory, using the WebDrive connection seems nice.

Also, one thing I'm thinking of trying is a feature they suggest on their site, setting up a secure ftp server on my home server, and using webdrive to automatically map it when my laptop boots up. Even over a open wireless connection it remains secure for transfering files to and from home.

Anyhow, thought I would share this with people. I saw on two threads over a year old this program was mentioned as FTP alternatives, so I created a new one to act as a "review". I will post anything I see at noteworthy about my trial here.

-Greg

Greg K's picture

He has: 2,145 posts

Joined: Nov 2003

Ok, found first thing I DISLIKE about the program. and it I guess is a pet peeve of mine.

It creates its own folder under "My Documents" for things like the cache files and such. Now, I can change that, but there are other folders under the WebDrive directory.

My Documents should only be **MY** documents, not an applications files needed to run. There is a path (2 different ones in fact) under "Documents and Settings" called "Application Data". Why can't they stick their files where they belong!!! I hate My Documents getting cluttered up by other programs! I have these that I don't want;

Corel User Files
Fax
InstantCDDVD
My Albulms
Pinnacle Studio
Play
Updater (adobe)
Updater 5 (adobe)

[/RANT]

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

Joined: Jun 1999

That's one of the many reasons why linux is a wonderful thing Smiling On OSX it's called "documents." At first I thought it would be different. I thought that since Mac was so special and usable (and behaves somewhat like linux), it couldn't possiby do anything like that. I was wrong.

In Mac and Linux you can easily map via sftp, ssh, or samba (also webDAV and a few others - don't have linux open atm so I don't know for sure)

Want to join the discussion? Create an account or log in if you already have one. Joining is fast, free and painless! We’ll even whisk you back here when you’ve finished.