rsync syntax help

[kirby42]

Hello all. I'm trying to understand rsync and os x's sytax enough to write a little script, but my brain is refusing to work...

I want to have my laptop recognize my flash drive, bidirectionally sync it with a folder on my desktop with rsync, then eject the drive. Playing a sound afterwards would be neat.

So.... help? Thanks.

Oh, and no "go get this program blah blah blah". There is a massive CLI and no reason to install pointless one use programs.

 

[maflynn]

Just type man rsync in the terminal, you'll get the explanation and also what flags there are and how to use them

 

[angelwatt]

Doing a "man rsync" will give you the manual. The basic pieces though are

rsync --archive --update /path/to/source /path/to/destination

then switch the paths to sync the opposite direction. The --update is key because it will skip files that are newer on the destination. The --dry-run argument will do a test run, which could be handy.

To have the script speak use the say command.

say "Synchronization complete!"