Syncing Logseq via Git using Working Copy on iOS

By Paul Berruti

Wow that’s a lot of words in the title! I’m going to do my best to walk you through it 🙂

I’d like to break this into multiple pages/tutorials so that may happen in the future but for right now let’s cover the basics.

Git

git is a version control system that is typically, but not exclusively, used for code. It lets you take snapshots and facilitates sharing with others if that’s part of your use case. The collection of all your snapshots and the current state of things is a repository in git terminology.

For Logseq we are going to use a private git repository so only you will have access. You can skip this section if you already know how to set this up.

  1. Create an account on GitHub or another provider of your choosing
  2. Click on the + in the upper right and select New repository
Create new repository on GitHub
  1. Type a Repository name, select Private, and then click Create Repository
Create private repository on GitHub

Congratulations, you now have a place to store your Logseq data! Onto the next step.

## Logseq

You can skip this section if you’ve already started using Logseq and have a folder to sync.

Note that I am using a custom color scheme so yours may differ in appearance.

  1. Launch Logseq on your iPhone or iPad and select Open a local directory to choose where to store your files
Open a local directory in Logseq
  1. It is very important to select a folder beneath On My iPhone inside of the Logseq folder! Selecting another folder will not work and using iCloud Drive may cause conflicts with the git syncing. These instructions are not necessary if you want to use iCloud Drive.
Selecting the folder
  1. This should leave you at a screen with today’s date
Starting screen in Logseq

## Working Copy

Alright we’re almost there. We have a place to sync to and we now have something to sync. Make sure you have the Working Copy app for iOS installed. These steps assume that you only have Logseq data on your phone and want to start from there. If you already have data on a different computer then you will need to wait for an update to this tutorial.

  1. Click the + in the upper right and select Link external directory; This option allows us to select the Logseq folder
Link external repository in Working Copy

  1. Select the folder you created in Logseq for storing your data

  2. Click on Repository to configure git settings for this folder

  3. Click on Configuration and then the + to create an Identity, filling in your name and e-mail and then selecting Done

  4. Select your new Identity which should bring you back to the following screen where you will click Add Remote

Adding remote in Working Copy

  1. The URL of the remote is https://github.com/{YOUR_USERNAME}/{YOUR_REPOSITORY_NAME} which in my example above would be https://github.com/Laptop765/example-name

  2. When you click Test it should prompt you to sign into GitHub

  3. After that is done and the test is successful, click Save and you should see your Repository listed under Remotes

At this point you should be all set to sync from iOS to git!

## How to Sync

There are 3 steps involved in syncing:

  1. Committing your changes

  2. Pulling any updates from git

  3. Pushing your changes to git

This section will be expanded soon!