Files.com offers flexible options for managing both your files and site configuration—whether through manual actions or fully automated workflows. Some tools are designed for direct user interaction, supporting tasks like uploading, downloading, managing site-level settings, or onboarding users. Others run in the background to sync, organize, or process files without any user involvement. This guide outlines the differences between client-side and server-side integration tools and helps you choose the right approach based on your specific workflow needs.

Client-Side vs Server-Side: What’s the Difference?

Client-side tools are initiated by a human and typically run on a desktop, laptop, mobile device, or browser. These tools are used for interactive tasks, one-time operations, or administrative actions. They are ideal when human judgment is required to complete a task or when direct access to files is necessary. Examples of Files.com client-side tools include the Files.com Web App, Desktop App, Mobile App, and the Files.com Command Line Interface (CLI).

Server-side tools are designed to run without user involvement. They operate in the background from servers or cloud environments and are ideal for scheduled tasks, unattended file transfers, or large-scale integrations. These tools are built for reliability, automation, and scale. Examples of Files.com server-side integration tools include Remote Servers, the Files.com Agent, and Automations.

Web App, Desktop App, and CLI

Client apps are designed for human interaction and are typically used for tasks like uploading, downloading, deleting files, checking settings, configuring syncs and automations, managing users, and assigning folder permissions. These tools provide user interfaces or command-line access for individuals to directly interact with Files.com features.

The Files.com Web App is commonly used by both end users and Site Administrators. It allows users to upload, download, rename, and organize files in the browser. It also supports editing and co-authoring through the Files.com editor. Site Administrators use the Web App to configure folder settings, manage user permissions, review logs, create automations, set up syncs, and handle other site-level administrative tasks.

The Files.com Desktop App, including the latest Desktop v6 version, provides a mapped drive experience on a user’s local machine. It integrates Files.com directly into the operating system’s file explorer, allowing users to open, save, and move files as if they were stored locally. This is ideal for employees who frequently interact with shared folders. For example, someone in finance may drag and drop invoices into a department folder each week using Desktop v6 or someone in the design team opens the media file directly from Desktop app's mounted drive to edit and save the file effortless.

The Files.com Mobile App provides access from smartphones and tablets. It supports basic file operations like viewing and downloading, making it useful for teams who need access to files while traveling or away from a desktop.

The Files.com CLI is a command-line utility used for scripted or manual tasks. It is commonly used by developers or administrators to perform uploads, downloads, and folder management through terminal commands. The Files.com CLI is also useful for administrative configuration tasks such as onboarding users, retrieving reports, managing folder permissions, or automating recurring admin actions. It is a powerful tool for integrating Files.com into development workflows or performing quick administrative tasks directly from the terminal.

On-Premise Agent, Syncs, and Automations

The Files.com On-Premise Agent connects your Files.com site to internal systems such as file servers, network-attached storage (NAS), and other storage devices located in data centers or environments protected by firewalls. It runs as a background service on a server within your infrastructure and establishes a secure outbound connection to the Files.com platform, allowing access to systems that are not exposed to the public internet.

The Agent is particularly useful when your workflows require regular movement of data between Files.com and your on-premise environment. It enables seamless and automated transfers from sources like Windows file shares, Linux servers, or internal backup storage, whether you are uploading critical data to the cloud or retrieving reports, logs, or media files into your local systems.

Syncs allow you to transfer files between Files.com and external storage systems automatically. These may include SFTP, SMB, S3-compatible storage, or other remote servers. Syncs run on a defined schedule and can copy or mirror files in either direction.

Automations let you create rules that act on files when certain conditions are met. These rules can move, delete, or rename files based on file name patterns, file age, or upload location. Once configured, they run without intervention and help enforce your business rules across folders and file types.

iPaaS and Infrastructure Tools

Files.com integrates with iPaaS platforms such as Zapier, Boomi, and MuleSoft to support cross-application workflows. These platforms can move data between Files.com and other tools like CRMs, ERPs, or data warehouses. For example, you might configure a workflow that pushes a signed contract from Files.com to your CRM when a new document is uploaded to a specific folder. These workflows are considered server-side because they operate without user action.

Infrastructure automation tools also follow the same distinction. Files.com's Terraform integration is typically used on the client side. It is run manually by DevOps engineers or through a CI/CD process to create or update Files.com configurations using infrastructure-as-code principles. This makes it a client-driven but scriptable integration.

Files.com RClone integration, on the other hand, is commonly used in server-side automation. It is installed on a server and run as part of a scheduled job or cron process to sync large volumes of files between Files.com and other cloud or on-premise storage systems. Because it operates in the background without user intervention, RClone fits the model of server-side file automation.

Choosing the Right Tool

Use client-side tools when human involvement is part of the workflow. The Web App, Desktop App, CLI, and Terraform are ideal for tasks that require manual oversight, interactive file access, or administrative configuration.

Use server-side tools when workflows need to run in the background or at scale. The On-Premise Agent, Syncs, Automations, iPaaS integrations, and tools like RClone are ideal for unattended operations, system-to-system file transfers, and policy enforcement.

Conclusion

Files.com offers a complete set of tools for both user-driven and automated workflows. Client-side tools are best for hands-on interactions, while server-side tools help automate recurring processes and connect Files.com to your broader infrastructure. By understanding the differences, you can choose the best approach for managing your files reliably and efficiently.