How to use Claude to port file sync tools
A developer used Claude Code for most of a 40-commit extension of CDC File Transfer, adding a Linux client, macOS builds, platform fixes and CI.
news.ycombinator.com
Suggested prompt
Suggested prompt written by Agents In Use, not the source author. Replace bracketed inputs and review tool permissions first.
Help extend [native file synchronization repository] to [target operating systems]. Inspect platform assumptions, implement the required process and filesystem support, and run [existing tests]. Document platform-specific fixes and remaining limitations.
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See placements →Evidence at a glance
Sourced account- Source poster / publisher
- vadiml
- Original account
- Read the source ↗
- Published
- Source link checked
- Reported result
- The author reported 40 commits adding Linux client support, macOS builds and CI, with all 41 tests passing on macOS.
- Human involvement
- The author described the changes and test results but did not detail a code-review process.
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How the agent did it
- Ported the cdc_rsync client to Linux with process management and port detection.
- Added macOS builds and fixed platform-specific filesystem and API differences.
- Added Linux and macOS CI and reported all 41 macOS tests passing.
The author extended CDC File Transfer, an open-source project originating at Google Stadia, using Claude Code for most of the work. The project includes cdc_rsync for file synchronization and cdc_stream for a streaming filesystem. Its content-defined chunking transfers changed portions of files, and the original tooling supported Windows-to-Linux workflows for large game builds.
The extension added a Linux client, including process management through fork/execve and port detection through POSIX shared memory. This enabled Linux-to-Linux synchronization. The author also added macOS builds for ARM64 and x86_64, addressing more than 17 platform-specific issues. Examples included macOS system-directory symlinks, shared-memory sizing behavior, file-type reporting and differences in available system calls.
The reported work comprised 40 commits. Infrastructure additions included GitHub Actions for Linux and macOS, a self-hosted macOS runner and a CLAUDE.md file for AI-assisted development. All 41 tests reportedly passed on macOS. The post does not assign individual changes specifically to Claude.
Who it's for: Developers extending established native tools across operating systems.
Prompt
Suggested prompt (written by Agents In Use, not the author's)
Source: Hacker News · vadiml
Frequently asked questions
What platform support did the extension add?
The author added Linux client support for Linux-to-Linux synchronization and macOS build support for ARM64 and x86_64.
What verification did the author report?
The post says all 41 tests passed on macOS and describes GitHub Actions CI for Linux and macOS.
More details
About this account
Claude Code assisted with most of the work; the post does not describe an unattended execution process.
Platform: Hacker News. Attribution: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46782392. Prompt: Suggested (written by Agents In Use, not the author's). Sourced by the Agents In Use pipeline.
Credit: vadiml on Hacker News
Source published
Added to Agents In Use
Source checked
Tools and topics
Claude Code · Bazel · GitHub Actions · CDC File Transfer
Cross-platform · File synchronization · Open source
Editorial completeness: 100/100. Measures documented fields, not agent performance or verified outcomes.