Cloud sync and the iPhone app
Cloud sync keeps your projects, to-dos, notes, commands and time entries the same on every computer and on your iPhone. It uses a PostgreSQL database that you own, so nobody else ever sees your data. Neon is the default because it has a free plan, but any PostgreSQL 12+ database works (Supabase, Railway, your own server).
What syncs: project names, descriptions, types, favourites, links, to-dos, notes, commands and time. What stays on each computer: folder locations, your editor and terminal choices, files and git state. A project that arrives from another computer shows as No folder until you pick its folder with Edit project….
Set up Neon (about two minutes)
- Sign in at neon.tech and create a project.
- On the project dashboard open Connect and turn Connection pooling off.
- Copy the connection string. It looks like
postgresql://user:password@ep-something.region.aws.neon.tech/neondb?sslmode=require.
Connect the desktop app
- Open Settings → Cloud sync.
- Choose Neon (default) or Other Postgres, and paste the connection string.
- Press Test connection, then Connect & sync.
BluePhoenix creates its own tables (names start with bp_) and uploads what you have. From then on it syncs every minute, and Sync now does it immediately. Repeat on your other computers with the same connection string.
The connection string contains your password, so it is stored in your system keychain, not in BluePhoenix’s data file.
Disconnect stops syncing and keeps your local data. Data already in the database stays there.
The iPhone app
Install BluePhoenix on your iPhone, open Settings, paste the same connection string, and press Connect & sync.
- Pull down on the project list to sync. It also syncs when you open the app and a moment after each change.
- You can add projects, tick off and edit to-dos, edit notes, and log time on the go. Everything works offline and syncs when you are back online.
- Commands are shown for reference (long-press to copy). They run on your computer.
- To use another database, Disconnect and connect again.
How conflicts are handled
If you change the same item on two devices before they sync, the most recent change wins. Deleting an item on one device removes it everywhere.
Troubleshooting
- “Last attempt failed”: the message says why. Typical causes are a wrong password, an expired Neon branch, or no internet.
- Authentication or pooler errors: use the direct (non-pooled) connection string.
- Something looks missing on one device: press Sync now on both devices. Clocks that are minutes apart can reorder very close edits, so keep automatic date and time on.