macOS Sequoia: rsync flight out, openrsync coming
Changes have been made to the terminal as part of macOS 15.4. Probably due to license changes, rsync has disappeared.
openrsync (symbolic image): Anyone who wants to synchronize data in Sequoia's terminal now uses new software.
(Image: Erstellt mit Grok durch Mac & i)
Surprise at the point release: With macOS 15.4, Apple has also tidied up the tools available via the terminal. In addition to plugging security gaps in libarchive, for example, there is a change to a central service: file synchronization using rsync. The command has been part of the system for many years and is now no longer supported in Sequoia. However, there is a workaround: In the form of openrsync.
Lawyer, hit the terminal
As the macOS admin blogger Das Flounder writes, the change or replacement is probably due to the fact that there have been license changes to the "regular" rsync, which Apple is apparently not willing to go along with. In addition, rsync was never upgraded to version 3.x in macOS; it always remained at version 2.x. With rsync 3.x, the rsync project switched to the GNU General Public License GPLv3. However, Apple obviously did not want to submit to this license (rsync 2.x was still under the less restrictive GPLv2 for commercial companies).
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Since rsync 2.x had not been developed further for a long time – according to The Flounder, the version used was 2.6.9 from 2006 –, a remedy finally had to be found. This now came in the form of openrsync, which implements rsync, but uses a BSD license – or more precisely: the ISC license –. This has the advantage that Apple can maintain the functionality again – also with regard to possible security gaps. openrsync is also largely compatible with rsync.
The disadvantages of openrsync
However, the switch also has disadvantages. These include the fact that functionalities are no longer available in certain application areas, meaning that the full range of features of rsync 3.x is not available. If you need these, you will have to look for help elsewhere. A simple solution would be to retrofit resync 3.x via homebrew. However, not every user wants to deal with the package manager –. A separate guide describes exactly how to do this.
This case shows that you cannot rely on the terminal tools supplied by Apple being up to date. This is not only for licensing reasons, but also has to do with the roadmap – Sometimes tools are apparently "forgotten". Apple should urgently take action here.
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