# Setting Up Org-Roam Directories and Syncing Multiple Machines (Linux, Android, & Windows) **URL:** \ **Category:** Requests\ **Created:** [October 17, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255 "2023-10-17T17:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/1 "2023-10-17T17:57:38Z")
Hi All, # tl;dr How does one setup an org-roam directory / database on multiple machines/devices? # The Objective I am moving from a markdown notes system that I originally started in OneNote, moved to Obsidian, moved to VSCodium (where I discovered org-mode and then saw that the VSCode package was very limited), and am wanting to go forward solely using emacs with org-mode/org-roam. My notes system is a directory with subdirectories, which I will explain further below. How should I setup up my org-roam folder? # What I’ve Been Using I have my markdown files , templates, and some org-mode `TODO` lists that I sync, using Syncthing, between my home Linux PCs, Android devices (Orgzly), and my work Windows 11 PC. I currently have a directory similar to the following: `~/Syncthing/Notes/` for Linux AND `"C:\Users\USER$\Documents\Syncthing\Notes\"` on Windows. In my `Notes` directory, I have `Work` and `Personal` subdirectories. On my home PCs, I can access everything. On my work PC, I only can access the `Work` subdirectory. I don’t want my personal notes accessible on a work PC that I don’t own. # Where I’m Stuck I would like to continue using Syncthing to sync my org-roam directory, likely with the `.stignore` file to have each local machine update it’s own .db file. On Linux and Android machines I think I should be able to use `~/Syncthing/org-roam` or something to that effect and have org-roam find the files via `(org-roam-db-location "~/Syncthing/org-roam/org-roam.db")` and `(setq org-roam-directory ("~/Syncthing/org-roam"))`. I am wondering how to marry up the Linux/Android and Windows systems. Where do I place the sync’d folder and how to let emacs/org-roam point to the correct path on Windows? # Table of What I Think Should be Executed | PC | User | Syncthing | Access | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Linux Desktop | zonsopkomst | ~/Syncthing/org-roam | Work & Personal subdirectories | | Linux Laptop | zonsopkomst | ~/Syncthing/org-roam | Work & Personal subdirectories | | Android Tablet | zonsopkomst | /storage/emulated/0/Syncthing/org-roam | Work & Personal subdirectories | | Android Phone | zonsopkomst | /storage/emulated/0/Syncthing/org-roam | Work & Personal subdirectories | | Windows 11 Desktop | My real name, nobody calls me zons… ☹ | C:\Users\USER$\Documents\Syncthing\org-roam | Work subdirectory ONLY | # Org-roam init.el Section ```auto (use-package org-roam (org-roam-directory "~/Syncthing/org-roam/") :bind (("C-c n l" . org-roam-buffer-toggle) ("C-c n f" . org-roam-node-find) ("C-c n i" . org-roam-node-insert)) :config (org-roam-setup)) ``` # Warning on Windows 11 ```auto Error (use-package): Failed to parse package org-roam: Wrong type argument: symbolp, (org-roam-directory "~/Syncthing/org-roam/") Disable showing Disable logging ``` # gcc [From org-roam Instructions](https://www.orgroam.com/manual.html#C-Compiler) ```auto Windows PowerShell Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Install the latest PowerShell for new features and improvements! https://aka.ms/PSWindows PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> MSYS2 PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> ``` #### Opens MSYS2: ```auto USER$@DESKTOP- MSYS ~ # pacman -S gcc resolving dependencies... looking for conflicting packages... Packages (8) binutils-2.41-3 isl-0.26-1 mpc-1.3.1-1 msys2-runtime-devel-3.4.9-2 msys2-w32api-headers-11.0.1.r0.gc3e587c06-1 msys2-w32api-runtime-11.0.1.r0.gc3e587c06-1 windows-default-manifest-6.4-1 gcc-13.2.0-2 Total Download Size: 45.52 MiB Total Installed Size: 346.28 MiB :: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y :: Retrieving packages... msys2-w32api-headers-11.0.... 5.2 MiB 672 KiB/s 00:08 [###############################] 100% binutils-2.41-3-x86_64 5.5 MiB 672 KiB/s 00:08 [###############################] 100% msys2-runtime-devel-3.4.9-... 339.2 KiB 614 KiB/s 00:01 [###############################] 100% mpc-1.3.1-1-x86_64 78.5 KiB 167 KiB/s 00:00 [###############################] 100% windows-default-manifest-6... 1388.0 B 1022 B/s 00:01 [###############################] 100% isl-0.26-1-x86_64 745.0 KiB 672 KiB/s 00:01 [###############################] 100% msys2-w32api-runtime-11.0.... 2.0 MiB 1129 KiB/s 00:02 [###############################] 100% gcc-13.2.0-2-x86_64 31.7 MiB 4.56 MiB/s 00:07 [###############################] 100% Total (8/8) 45.5 MiB 2.59 MiB/s 00:18 [###############################] 100% error: failed retrieving file 'gcc-13.2.0-2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst' from mirror.msys2.org : Failed to connect to mirror.clarkson.edu port 443 after 10013 ms: Timeout was reached error: failed retrieving file 'msys2-w32api-runtime-11.0.1.r0.gc3e587c06-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst' from mirror.msys2.org : Failed to connect to mirror.clarkson.edu port 443 after 10005 ms: Timeout was reached error: failed retrieving file 'isl-0.26-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst' from mirror.msys2.org : Failed to connect to mirror.clarkson.edu port 443 after 10018 ms: Timeout was reached warning: too many errors from mirror.msys2.org, skipping for the remainder of this transaction (8/8) checking keys in keyring [###############################] 100% (8/8) checking package integrity [###############################] 100% (8/8) loading package files [###############################] 100% (8/8) checking for file conflicts [###############################] 100% (8/8) checking available disk space [###############################] 100% :: Processing package changes... (1/8) installing binutils [###############################] 100% (2/8) installing isl [###############################] 100% (3/8) installing mpc [###############################] 100% (4/8) installing msys2-runtime-devel [###############################] 100% (5/8) installing msys2-w32api-headers [###############################] 100% (6/8) installing msys2-w32api-runtime [###############################] 100% (7/8) installing windows-default-manifest [###############################] 100% (8/8) installing gcc [###############################] 100% :: Running post-transaction hooks... (1/1) Updating the info directory file... USER$@DESKTOP- MSYS ~ # where gcc C:\tools\msys64\usr\bin\gcc.exe ``` Okay, looks good so far, and added `C:\tools\msys64\usr\bin\gcc.exe` to my Windows Environmental variables. But I still cannot run ‘M-x org-roam-db-autosync-mode’ as there is no command in emacs and is probably occuring because I have no org-roam directory or org-roam database yet. I appreciate any advice that you can provide! Thank you, zons ---
**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/2 "2023-10-17T20:09:53Z")
Sorry it’s hard to read all your detail but I hope the following will respond to most of your issues. For Windows, 1. Download the latest release 29. It has sqlite built-in and works (I use it). No need for gcc or msys2 2. To use it, download the package emacsql-sqlite-builtin in addition to emacsql. See this [post](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/solved-emacsql-sqlite3-no-longer-available-from-melpa/3048/3) Do not sync the database file. They should be built for each machine. I don’t think your Android mobile phone and tablet can use Emacs and org-roam (orgzly can edit org files but it does not have the backlinks from org-roam, but I suspect you know it and I believe it’s not an issue for you). For settings in Emacs, there is no difference between Windows and Linux for org-roam. You can use sqlite-builtin: `(setq org-roam-database-connector 'sqlite-builtin)`. Make sure to set the correct org-roam-directory for each machine. Check the configuration example in README of the project repo on GitHub. You have a syntactic error in the way you use use-package. The second line immediately after `use-package org-roam` should not start with `(org-roam-directory…`. That seems to be what the error message is saying; it’s not just Windows, but Linux won’t work, either. ---
**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/3 "2023-10-17T20:26:52Z")
If you are reading this from your email, I have extensively edited my previous post and the version on the email is obsolete. Please check back the web. ---
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/4 "2023-10-17T20:41:31Z")
Thanks @nobiot. I also have a Matrix conversation going with yantar92 at [You're invited to talk on Matrix](https://matrix.to/#/!rUhEinythPhVTdddsb:matrix.org/$16975667341398GjmDc:matrix.org?via=matrix.org&via=envs.net&via=kde.org) that has taken care of some of my issues. Should I uninstall emacs 28 and MSYS2 before installing emacs 29? I have installed emacs through chocolatey. I see that winget has it as the latest, but chocolatey is still [28](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/Emacs), unless I would use [29](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/emacs.install). ---
**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/5 "2023-10-17T20:44:29Z")
I don’t know what chocolaty does to the system to manage the packages, but I would remove 28 if I were you (it probably adds environmental variable for itself). I’d just simply download the binary file from the official GNU/Emacs website/mirror. You don’t need to remove msys2. ---
**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/6 "2023-10-17T20:48:05Z")
If you want to use 28, I have a step-by-step guide for Windows 10. 11 is the same process. > **[GitHub - nobiot/Zero-to-Emacs-and-Org-roam: Step by step guide from zero to...](https://github.com/nobiot/Zero-to-Emacs-and-Org-roam)** > > Step by step guide from zero to installing and setting up Emacs and Org-roam on Windows 10 - GitHub - nobiot/Zero-to-Emacs-and-Org-roam: Step by step guide from zero to installing and setting up Em... ---
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/7 "2023-10-17T21:02:17Z")
Thanks @nobiot . I am familiar with your works. I haven’t followed your guide 100% due to using `straight` as my emacs package manager, but I have installed MSYS2 using the [Org-roam User Manual](https://www.orgroam.com/manual.html#C-Compiler) instructions, which appear in line with your instructions. I am wondering if my Windows environment path is set correctly. I have included these: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/orgroam/original/2X/e/e2172e82eb0c2e81de0cd401aa88f341141f18a5.png) as I didn’t quite understand the above [Org-roam User Manual](https://www.orgroam.com/manual.html#C-Compiler) instructions and have never had to edit my Windows environment path before. But this is what `where gcc` had output. The good news is that I am no longer receiving the [Warning on WIndows 11](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255#warning-on-windows-11-7) message that I originally posted above after following [yantar92’s instructions](https://matrix.to/#/!rUhEinythPhVTdddsb:matrix.org/$16975667341398GjmDc:matrix.org?via=matrix.org&via=envs.net&via=kde.org) on Matrix chat. My messages buffer is clean now. ---
**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/8 "2023-10-17T21:16:36Z")
gcc is needed to compile the sqlite source provided by emacsql-sqlite. MSYS2 is needed to get gcc easily on Windows. All this is requires for org-roam up until Emacs version 28 on Windows. So if you want 28, you can keep going. If you have Emacs 29.1 onward on Windows, sqlite is built-in within Emacs itself, so you won’t need gcc (and msys2 for this reason). Either way, good luck. You can come back here if you get stuck. I don’t think straight is a good option on Windows simply because it requires additional efforts to get Info documentation (user manuals—including org-roam’s) that you can access from within Emacs offline. The situation might have improved. This is just my observation and personal preference. ---
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/9 "2023-10-17T21:21:49Z")
Thanks @nobiot. Well, it appears that using the MSYS2 method to install gcc easily on Windows worked, but when I run `M-x org-roam-db-autosync-mode` displays the message: ```auto No EmacSQL SQLite binary available: (Could not find C compiler, skipping SQLite build) ``` so I can only imagine that something is incorrect with my environment path. But I don’t understand what it may be. If you have any more suggestions, I will attempt before uninstalling 28 and going the 29 route. It’s just that 28 is working, and I hope 29 would work, but there’s always the odd chance I make the situation worse. EDIT: 1. Installed sqlite mingw using `chocolatey` ```auto choco install sqlite mingw -y ``` In Windows Powershell, `msys2`, and executed the following commands ```auto pacman -Syu pacman -Su pacman -S --needed base-devel mingw-w64-x86_64-toolchain ``` Opened `emacs` ```auto M-x org-roam-db-autosync-mode ``` `emacs` Messages Buffer output: ```auto Compiling EmacSQL SQLite binary...done Clearing removed files...done Processing modified files...done ``` ---
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/10 "2023-10-17T22:04:17Z")
Running `M-x org-roam-db-autosync-mode` in `emacs` results in: ```auto "c:/Users/Zonsopkomst/AppData/Roaming/.emacs.d" failed with status "exited abnormally with code 49" and result Invalid face attribute :foreground nil [3 times] ``` I think I have had enough of this today. Will be back tomorrow. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/11 "2023-10-18T13:52:36Z")
Hopefully these posts will help anyone else running into this issue: So late last night I `C-c f n` and created a note and viola, the org-roam database was created. I now have `org-roam` functioning on both Windows and Linux and the files are shared via `Syncthing` using an `.stignore` file. I have created a directory `~/Syncthing/org-roam` with subdirectories `/Personal` and `/Work` and have added `Personal` to my `.stignore` file so that it will NOT be shared to my Windows work computer. That being said, I am not well versed on how `org-roam` functions, but I am hoping that the database on each machine will function correctly as I learn and understand `org-roam`. @nobiot Thanks for your help and for reference to your instructions! ---
**Author:** ![nobiot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/nobiot/32/159_2.png) [@nobiot](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/nobiot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/12 "2023-10-18T15:49:34Z")
> [@zonsopkomst](#): > > I am hoping that the database on each machine will function correctly Letting each machine generate its own db file is the way Jethro has design it to work (“it’s a cache”) – so what you have done is the standard way. One thing you might like to note is this: Org-roam updates the database for all new and changed files when you activate `org-roam-db-autosync-mode` (or, equivalently, when you run `org-roam-setup`, which activates the mode). Other than this, Org-roam only updates the db for each file you change in the machine. This is good for performance, but it also means … if you keep running your personal Linux machine for a long time, while you update your work notes in your Windows machine, the notes get synced with Synchthing but Org-roam in your Linux machine will not automatically update the database with the changes / new work notes. If you are a type of person who shuts down Emacs or Linux PC often (like me), then you won’t even see this. But if you tend to keep Linux (or Windows) machine running days and weeks, you should know about this. None of this breaks your note files or Org-roam db files. It’s just the cache db is not in sync, so you might not see some of notes in another machine, and scratch your head wondering what’s happening. In this case, simply run `org-roam-db-sync` manually. Org-roam then scans all the new and changed files (based on the time stamp) and add them to the db. ---
**Author:** ![zonsopkomst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/org-roam.discourse.group/zonsopkomst/32/1374_2.png) [@zonsopkomst](https://org-roam.discourse.group/u/zonsopkomst)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://org-roam.discourse.group/t/setting-up-org-roam-directories-and-syncing-multiple-machines-linux-android-windows/3255/13 "2023-10-18T17:55:21Z")
Thanks. Good to know. I will keep that in mind. I shutdown each machine daily, except for my work machine, so it is good to to be aware of how the database updates.