Blog

#!/bin/bash
# =============================================================================
# Maestral Installation Script for Linux
# 
# Purpose: Installs Maestral (open-source Dropbox client) in a Python virtual
#          environment and sets up desktop integration.
#
# Created: April 19, 2025
# Originally developed by Mark Rabideau (ManyRoads)
# https://eirenicon.org
# with assistance from Claude (Anthropic)
# 
# License: Free to use, modify, and distribute
# 
# DISCLAIMER: This script modifies your system. Review the code before running.
# Use at your own risk. Always backup important data before running scripts
# downloaded from the internet.
# =============================================================================

# Function to check command status and provide feedback
check_status() {
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
        echo "? ERROR: $1 failed"
        exit 1
    else
        echo "? $1 completed"
    fi
}

# Display header
echo "=================================================="
echo "? Maestral Installation Script"
echo "=================================================="
echo "This script will install Maestral, an open-source"
echo "Dropbox client, in a Python virtual environment."
echo ""
echo "System requirements:"
echo "- Debian/Ubuntu-based Linux distribution"
echo "- Python 3.6 or newer"
echo "=================================================="
echo ""

# Check for Python
if ! command -v python3 &> /dev/null; then
    echo "? Python 3 is not installed. Please install Python 3 and try again."
    exit 1
fi

# Make sure dependencies are installed
echo "? Installing dependencies..."
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y python3-venv python3-pip desktop-file-utils shared-mime-info
check_status "Installing dependencies"

sudo update-desktop-database
check_status "Updating desktop database"

# Create virtual environment with full path
VENV_PATH="$HOME/maestral-venv"
echo "? Creating Python virtual environment at $VENV_PATH..."
python3 -m venv "$VENV_PATH"
check_status "Creating virtual environment"

# Activate virtual environment
echo "? Activating virtual environment..."
source "$VENV_PATH/bin/activate"
check_status "Activating virtual environment"

# Upgrade pip first
echo "? Upgrading pip..."
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
check_status "Upgrading pip"

# Install Maestral
echo "? Installing Maestral core..."
python -m pip install --upgrade maestral
check_status "Installing Maestral core"

# Install Maestral GUI
echo "?? Installing Maestral GUI..."
python -m pip install --upgrade "maestral[gui]"
check_status "Installing Maestral GUI"

# Verify Maestral binary exists
MAESTRAL_BIN="$VENV_PATH/bin/maestral"
if [ -f "$MAESTRAL_BIN" ]; then
    echo "? Maestral binary found at $MAESTRAL_BIN"
    
    # Set Maestral autostart
    echo "? Setting up autostart..."
    "$MAESTRAL_BIN" autostart -Y
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
        echo "?? Warning: Could not set autostart, but continuing installation"
    fi
else
    echo "? ERROR: Maestral binary not found at $MAESTRAL_BIN"
    echo "Installation may have failed"
    exit 1
fi

# Add .desktop file
echo "? Creating desktop file..."
if ! test -e /usr/share/applications/maestral.desktop; then
    DESKTOP_CONTENT="[Desktop Entry]
Name=Maestral
Comment=Open-source Dropbox client
Exec=$VENV_PATH/bin/maestral gui
Icon=maestral
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Network;FileTransfer;
StartupNotify=false"
    
    echo "$DESKTOP_CONTENT" | sudo tee /usr/share/applications/maestral.desktop > /dev/null
    echo "? Desktop file created at /usr/share/applications/maestral.desktop"
else
    echo "? Desktop file already exists."
fi

# Output startup instructions
echo ""
echo "=================================================="
echo "? Maestral Installation Complete!"
echo "=================================================="
echo ""
echo "To start Maestral now, run:"
echo "  $VENV_PATH/bin/maestral gui"
echo ""
echo "To add Maestral to your startup (for window managers like dwm),"
echo "add this line to your .xsessionsrc or startup script:"
echo "  $VENV_PATH/bin/maestral gui &"
echo ""
echo "Enjoy using Maestral!"
echo "=================================================="