Dropbox on Kubuntu Karmic 9.10 in KDE! No Nautils needed.

Written by on December 6, 2009 — 5 Comments

Dropbox on Kubuntu Karmic 9.10 in KDE! No Nautils needed.Dropbox is a wonderful website. Syncing your file automagically over the net. It even supports the iPhone AND linux. Now how many applications can say that they actually do support all major/popular operating systems?

The dropbox software is rather easy to install in the Linux flavors of Ubuntu (not Kubuntu), Fedora 9 and 10. There is also a source code download button, but we are not interested in that since it required Nautils.

What is Nautils? It’s the Gnome file manager. Kubuntu uses KDE and thus Konqueror and/or Dolphin. Getting it to work for us in KDE is simple.

I got the original tutorial from here. Here are the steps and a few highlights:

  1. Download Dropbox binaries (in tar.gz form).
    1. for x86 users: http://www.getdropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86
    2. for x86_64 users: http://www.getdropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86_64
  2. Extract the downloaded file, at the time of this writing the file name was “dropbox-lnx.x86_64-0.6.571.tar.gz”
    1. To extract from the command line: tar xzf dropbox-lnx.x86_64-0.6.571.tar.gz
  3. The .tar.gz file extracts to a hidden folder named “.dropbox-dist”. So move this file to your $HOME (your home) directory
    1. To move it to your home directory via command line: mv .dropbox-dist ~/
    2. If you use Dolphin or Konq., you won’t be able to see the folder unless you have “view hidden files” enabled.
  4. You need to start the Dropbox daemon for the first time. The dropbox daemon is called “dropboxd”
    1. To start it from the command line: ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
  5. Now we need to add it to our autostart. Two easy ways, command line and System Settings ways.
    1. For command ling way: ln -s ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd ~/.kde/Autostart
    2. Gui way: Kmenu -> System Settings -> Advanced -> Autostart -> Add Script  … and now navigate to ~/.dropbox-dist and select dropboxd

After all is said and done, you’ll have a nice little dropbox tray icon. After starting the Dropbox daemon for the first time, it will allow you to connect to an existing account or create a new one!

Now, no more worries about Nautils. Dropbox will automatically open your default folder viewer (probably Dolphin) when you use it. You can also easily browse to your Dropbox folder using Dolphin, Konqueror or even the command line JUST like as if it were a normal folder. Fun!

Happy Dropbox‘ing in KDE. Now if you need a direct to the sign-up page, please use my referral link. This way we both will get extra free space:  https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTMzNzE0NDI5

About the author
Piotr Krzyzek is one of those rare people who can say he's a consultant, author, entrepreneur and programmer and mean it. His consulting firm, Chykalophia Group, has attracted international startups, Department Of Defense contractors, local mom-and-pop shops and many others from all around the world. He is a bonafide computer nerd with a passion for business, networking and business development.

Learn how your business can improve conversion rates, attain a better business image and increase profits by connecting with Peter on his author page http://www.piotrkrzyzek.com/author/piotrkrzyzek/.

5 Comments on "Dropbox on Kubuntu Karmic 9.10 in KDE! No Nautils needed."

  1. Brad DeWindt says: December 23, 2009 at 6:42 pm · Reply

    Just wanted to give my thanks for this article…it is way easier than the hoops the dropbox wiki wants you to jump through.

  2. Justin Germino says: February 17, 2011 at 9:16 am · Reply

    Dropbox rocks, pure and simple and the fact that it has cross platform support with its client or accessible completely through the web only helps. I highly recommend the service now after signing up yesterday.

  3. jonny says: May 22, 2011 at 6:30 pm · Reply

    Thanks man. 3 hours of mind-blowing tilt, till I found your page. I swear they go out of their way to make the simplest things complicated. thanks!

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