iCloud drive sync, or mount, with a Linux, Ubuntu, device

Updated 2025-01-23 !

With my project to keep a MacBook Air 2011(MBA) alive, Ubuntu installed, i searched for a solution where my iCoud drive(iCD) was continuous synced with my MBA. This must work both ways so even a file change made on MBA should be replicated to iCD.

rclone now, 2025-01, works with iCloud !! Setup below !!

Before "rclone" was working with iCloud I solved my sync between iCD and MBA with Syncthing(ST). Check below. ST doesn't sync with iCloud so the work around here was to use my MacMini, Mac OS, as the "Middle man". It's always on and synced with iCD.

Ubuntu Desktop for beginners or easy start !

This post is for both Windows and Mac users ! 

I have been running Linux, Raspberry Pi OS, since several years but almost just the Lite version (without Desktop).

But when my old MacBook Air "gave up", with Mac OS, it came naturally to use Ubuntu Desktop since it's also based on the Debian Linux distribution and the most used Linux distribution.

So it ended up with installing Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS(UOS) or the later 24.10 !