Macos Sequoia: Rsync Flight out, OpenRSync is coming

Surprise at the point release: With MacOS 15.4, Apple also cleaned up on the tools available via the terminal. In addition to the plug of security gaps, for example in libarchive there is a change to a central service: the file synchronization using rsync. The command has been part of the system for many years and is no longer supported in Sequoia. However, there is a remedy: in the form of OpenRSync.

Lawyer, meet the terminal

As the MacOS admin blogger writes the Flounder, the change or the replacement should have to do with the fact that the “regular” RSYNC has apparently changed the Apple is not ready. In addition, RSYNC in MacOS was never hoisted on version 3.x, one was always remained with version 2.x. The RSYNC project switched to the GNU General Public License GPLV3 with RSYNC 3.X. Obviously, Apple did not want to submit (RSYNC 2.X was still less restrictive for commercial companies).

After RSYNC 2.X has not been developed for a long time – according to the Flounder, the version 2.6.9 from 2006 – used, was finally remedied. It now came in the form of OpenRSync, which implemented RSYNC, but a BSD license-more precisely: the ISC license-uses. This has the advantage that Apple can maintain functionality again – also in terms of possible security gaps. OpenRSync is also largely compatible with RSYNC.

The disadvantages of OpenRSync

However, the change also has disadvantages. This includes that In certain areas of application, functionalities are eliminatedso not the entire feature circumference of RSYNC 3.x is available. If you need this, you have to look for help elsewhere. A simple solution would be Resync 3.x via homebrew to retrofit. But not every user may deal with the parcel manager – exactly how to do it describes its own instruction.

The case shows that you cannot rely on the fact that the terminal tools supplied by Apple are up to date. This not only has to do the license reasons, but also with the roadmap – sometimes tools are also apparently “forgotten”. Apple should be urgently active here.