YARsync – Yet Another Rsync

Yet Another Rsync is a file synchronization and backup tool with the interface similar to git.

It can be used to synchronize data between different hosts or locally (for example, to a backup drive). It provides a familiar git command interface while working with files.

YARsync can be used to manage hierarchies of unchanging files, such as music, books, articles, photographs, etc. Its final goal is to have the same state of files across different computers. It also allows to store backup copies of data and easily copy, update or recover that.

It is a Python wrapper (available for Python>=3.6) around rsync and requires a file system with hard links.

This is free and open source software.

Key Features

• Distributed – no central host or repository. If different replicas diverge, the program assists the user to merge the repositories manually. Several replicas of the repository can diverge, and in that case a manual merge is supported.
• Efficient – only run on user demand, and does not consume system resources constantly. Already transferred files are not transmitted again. This allows the user to rename or move files or whole directories without any costs, driving constant improvements on the repository.
• Non-intrusive – does nothing to user data. It has no complicated packing or unpacking. All user data and program configuration are stored as usual files in the file system. If one decides to stop using the software, they can simply remove the configuration directory at any time.
• Simple – does not implement complicated file transfer algorithms, but uses an existing, widely accepted and tested tool for that. User configuration is stored in simple text files, and repository snapshots are usual directories, which can be modified, copied or browsed from a file manager
• Safe – preserves user data. It always allows one to see what will be done before any actual modifications (–dry-run). It is its advantage compared to continuous synchronization tools, that may be dangerous if local repository gets corrupt (e.g. encrypted by a trojan). Removed files are stored in older commits (until the user explicitly removes those).

Website: github.com/ynikitenko/yarsync
Support:
Developer: Yaroslav Nikitenko
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

YARsync is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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