As you may know, Google did not create an official Google Drive client for Linux yet. There was a tool called Grive, but it does not work anymore, since Google has changed its API recently.
But a third party developer has decided to fork Grive under the name of Grive2 (version 0.4.0) and made it work with Google Drive’s new API. Also, a partial directory synchronization feature has been implemented and a bunch of fixes have been added.
But unfortunately, it still does not support symlinks, Google Docs and the sync process is performed only when you run Grive.
Installation instructions:
To install Grive2 on Ubuntu 15.04 Vivid Vervet, Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn, Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr and derivative systems, like: Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca, Linux Mint 17 Qiana, Pinguy OS 14.04, Elementary OS 0.3 Freya, Deepin 2014, Peppermint Five, LXLE 14.04 and Linux Lite 2, we need to add the PPA to our system, refresh the local repository index and install the grive package:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install grive
Optional, to remove grive2, do:
$ sudo apt-get remove grive
Also, if you are using Arch Linux, Manjaro, ArchBang or a derivative system, the Grive package from AUR has been overwritten with Grive2, so, to install it just do:
$ sudo yaourt grive
Optional, to remove grive2, do:
$ sudo yaourt -Rsn grive
Usage instructions:
After you have installed grive2, you need to create a grive directory, cd into it and give Grive2 permissions to access your Google Drive:
$ mkdir -p ~/grive
$ cd ~/grive
$ grive -a
Next, you have to paste the displayed URL in your browser, click Allow access and paste the authentication code in the grive terminal:
So, now that Grive has been configured, whenever you need to sync your Google Drive with your ~/grive folder, go to the grive folder and run grive:
$ cd ~/grive
$ grive
Also, if you want to use the partial sync feature and sync only a subfolder with your Google Drive, do:
$ grive -s ~/grive/name_of_subfolder