Projects: Screenshots Declutter in Linux and macOS

I’ve finally found a neat enough way to organise screenshots made on my different workstations, Linux and macOS ones, into one area where all the screenshots are organised and easily searchable by the date they were taken.

Screenshots Declutter Plan

Here are the steps I took to complete this project on my primary macOS system:

1. Find most recent screenshots (taken with macOS built-in screenshot tool)
2. Export screenshots from the latest screenshot app I used – Inboard app
3. Find past screenshots taken in the apps of the past: Voila and then Capto (that's actually one and same app from the same vendor)
4. Process most of files with custom made scripts to update their modified time
5. Setup sync folder between Linux and macOS laptops using Syncthing
6. Create Hazel automation for processing new screenshots (the ones dropped by macOS screenshot tool onto Desktop)
7. Create Hazel automation for synchronising Documents/screenshots directory with the Syncthing one – explanations below

Most of the steps are fairly simple, I just never had the time to plan them and to complete them all fully. Still, there were a few cool scripting opportunities along the way – explained below.

Updating File Modification Date Based on Filename

Synchronising a Folder between Linux and macOS

Initially I was going to use Dropbox, but turns out its free plan supports only 3 devices these days – leave me one device short, which was not acceptable.

After reviewing things for a short while, I decided to give Syncthing a try – have heard great things but never used their solution before.

Pretty straightforward to setup:

1. Install on both devices (both laptops): macOS and Linux
2. Setup /Users/greys/synchthng/screenshots area for sync
3. Setup /Users/greys/synchting/screenshots.inbox area for incoming screenshots
4. Share access from one to another (if connected from the same wifi – it will even show you the ID of the other system)

Why Setup Documents/Pictures in macOS?

I planned to simply use /Users/greys/Pictures directory, specifically create a subdirectory called screenshots in it. But later I realised that Pictures are not synced using iCloud, so I relocated screenshots into Documents folder.

Why Sync Documents/Pictures and syncthing/screenshots

iCloud sync gives me seamless synchronisation between macOS systems and iPhone/iPad devices. That’s pretty cool!

But also wanted my Linux laptop synced cause I regularly research and write new posts for Unix Tutorial on it. There’s no easy iCloud sync for Ubuntu, hence Syncthing was selected.

Although potentially I could use the same Documents/screenshots folder for both iCloud and Syncthing synchronisation, it’s risky in terms of potential clashes with cloud synchronisations, so I kept it simple for now.

Synchronising Folders with Hazel

Screenshots Project Summary

In total, I have synced 3600 screenshots taken in 5 different software solutions over the past 4 years. I’m really happy with how it turned out.

That’s it for today!

See Also

• Unix Tutorial
• Unix Projects
• Automating screenshots with Hazel
• Project: ExFAT in RHEL8