Explore an S3 bucket like an FTP server?

If you're used to browsing file transfer servers (FTP) using your favorite desktop client (FileZilla for example), the experience of browsing, uploading, or downloading files to an S3 bucket through Amazon's interface can quickly become tedious.

Especially if you use "S3-compatible" storage services, like Clever-Cloud Cellar for example, which don't have a web browsing interface, and on which you have to connect via the command line!

A multi-server, open-source file explorer

In this article I'm going to introduce you to CyberDuck, an open-source desktop client (compatible with Windows and MacOS) that allows you to easily connect to your bucket and manage your files (upload, download, delete, move, etc.).

But that's not all, because CyberDuck is compatible with many different types of storage servers, such as:

• S3
• FTP/SFTP
• WebDAV
• OpenStack Swift
• OneDrive/GoogleDrive/Dropbox

To get started, download the executable and launch the installation: https://cyberduck.io/download/

Tutorial

When you launch the software, you'll land on an empty file explorer, with the option to open a new connection using the button located at the top left as shown below:

Once done, you should have a new connection window open, looking roughly like this:

Normally the connection type selected by default should be "FTP", so you'll need to open the list and select "Amazon S3".

If you're using an S3-compatible service, select the same option, and simply enter your third-party provider's server URL.

All that's left is to enter your identifier and your secret key, and connect!

You'll then land on the file explorer and can start transferring your files (or perform other operations). To check the status of your upload exchanges, CyberDuck will automatically open a new "Transfer" window to make things easier for you:

And there you go, you've just transferred files to your S3 (or compatible) bucket from your system, and with a graphical interface!