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rsync command builder

Assemble a ready-to-paste rsync command from source, destination and transfer options.

Output

rsync command builder

rsync is one of those tools everyone reaches for and nobody fully remembers the flags to — is it -a or -r, does --delete go before or after the exclude list, which side gets the trailing slash. This builder turns a form into a correct, ready-to-run command line, so you spend your attention on what to sync rather than on flag order.

Fill in a source and destination path, and optionally a remote host, user and SSH port for a push over the network. Toggle archive mode to preserve permissions, timestamps, symlinks and ownership in one go, add compression for slow links, and turn on deletion to make the destination an exact mirror of the source. Exclude and include patterns accept a comma- or newline-separated list — .git, node_modules, build artefacts — and a bandwidth limit keeps a large sync from saturating the connection. Three presets (backup, deploy website, mirror) set a sensible bundle of flags in one click; picking "Custom" leaves every checkbox in your own hands.

The one flag people get backwards most often is the trailing slash on the source path: with one, rsync copies the directory's *contents* into the destination; without it, the directory itself is created inside the destination. The tool applies your choice automatically and explains it under the command, along with every other flag it used — so the line is not just correct but understandable. Turn on --dry-run first to preview exactly what would change before anything is deleted or overwritten.

Everything runs locally in your browser. No path, hostname or username you type is ever transmitted anywhere — the tool only assembles text. Copy the result, download it as a .txt file, or send it to another tool's input to keep working.

FAQ

What does the trailing slash on the source path actually change?
With a trailing slash (source/), rsync copies the contents of that directory into the destination. Without one (source), it copies the directory itself, nested one level inside the destination. Toggle the checkbox and the tool applies the rule for you.
Why does turning on archive mode hide the permissions and timestamps checkboxes?
It doesn't hide them, but -a already includes both, so the tool skips adding -p and -t separately to avoid a redundant flag. Turn archive mode off if you want to preserve only permissions or only timestamps and nothing else.
Does a preset lock in the flags, or can I still adjust them?
A preset (backup, deploy website, mirror) sets its own fixed bundle of transfer flags, overriding the individual checkboxes for that bundle. Paths, host, user, patterns, bandwidth limit and dry run stay under your control regardless of the preset. Choose "Custom" to control every flag by hand.
Is it safe to paste a path with spaces or special characters?
Yes. Every path and pattern is wrapped in single quotes and a literal single quote is escaped, so the generated command runs the value as plain text rather than letting a shell interpret it.
Is anything I type sent to a server?
No. The command is assembled entirely in your browser using JavaScript — your paths, hostnames and credentials never leave your device.