gvfs-save

gvfs-save [options] source destination

source
    The path to the temporary file to be saved. This file will be moved to the destination after a successful save.

destination
    The GVFS URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) where the file should be saved (e.g., smb://server/share/file.txt or ftp://user@server/file.txt).

--replace
    Replace an existing file at the destination without prompting.

--no-move
    Do not move the source file to the destination, effectively copying it instead. It also deletes the source after copying if copying succeeds.

--verbose
    Enable verbose output for debugging purposes.

The gvfs-save command is a helper utility primarily used by applications that need to save files to locations managed by GVFS (GNOME Virtual File System). GVFS is a userspace virtual filesystem designed to provide access to various remote file systems, such as FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, SMB, and more.

It facilitates saving files through GVFS-mounted locations by handling the complexities of GVFS file management. It ensures proper file handling, including locking and potential conflict resolution during the saving process. Essentially, gvfs-save provides a consistent way for applications to interact with remote storage systems using GVFS.

Most users will not directly call gvfs-save from the command line. It's primarily intended for use by GUI applications behind the scenes. Using it directly might be necessary for scripting or advanced debugging, but general file manipulation should utilize other GVFS tools such as gvfs-copy, gvfs-move and related tools.

The effectiveness of gvfs-save relies on the proper configuration and availability of the GVFS daemons. Issues with GVFS mounts or authentication can cause it to fail. The behavior also depends on the specific GVFS backend being used, as different backends may have different capabilities or limitations.

Incorrect usage of URI format can lead to unpredictable behavior.

The destination must be a valid GVFS URI. This typically starts with a scheme like smb://, ftp://, sftp://, or dav://, followed by the server address and path to the target file. Authentication details (username and password) may be included in the URI if required, although this is generally discouraged for security reasons. Instead, GVFS usually handles authentication transparently through its credential management system.

If gvfs-save encounters an error (e.g., network connectivity issues, permission denied), it will typically exit with a non-zero status code. Applications should check the exit status of the command to determine whether the save operation was successful and handle errors appropriately.

gvfs-save was developed as part of the GNOME Virtual File System (GVFS) project. It was created to address the need for a consistent and reliable way for GNOME applications to save files to various remote locations. GVFS itself emerged as a successor to the older GNOME VFS (Virtual File System), aiming for improved performance and a more modern architecture. The command's primary role is in facilitating seamless interaction between applications and GVFS backends when saving files.

The command is heavily used within GNOME desktop environment and its related tools. It's usage outside GNOME is less common.

gvfs(1), gvfs-copy(1), gvfs-move(1), gvfs-mount(1)