Openrsync: An implementation of rsync, by the OpenBSD team (github.com)

Article summary

The OpenBSD team has implemented an alternative to rsync, called openrsync, which is compatible with the rsync protocol but has a BSD license. Openrsync is designed to be portable and can run on various UNIX systems, with official support for OpenBSD. The implementation includes features such as a portable humanize_number function and a skeleton implementation of sbuf. Openrsync is available on GitHub and can be installed and used similarly to rsync.

Main themes

• Open source alternatives
• Rsync implementation
• BSD license
• Portability
• UNIX systems
• OpenBSD

What commenters say

• Some commenters are avoiding openrsync due to concerns about AI-generated code, despite the benefits of using the tool.
• The use of AI in software development is seen as inevitable and will eventually replace manual coding.
• Others argue that avoiding AI-generated code is a moral imperative and that manually written software is superior.
• The choice between BSD and GPL licenses is a matter of opinion, with some preferring the permissiveness of BSD and others the copyleft requirements of GPL.
• The paradox of tolerance is raised, with some arguing that the BSD license's tolerance of closed-source derivatives is a weakness, while others see it as a strength.
• There are differing opinions on the effectiveness of AI tools in software development, with some finding them useful and others considering them to be unproven or inferior.
• The naming of openrsync is seen as potentially misleading, given that the original rsync is already open source under the GPL license.
• Some commenters believe that the focus on avoiding AI-generated code is misguided and that energy would be better spent on improving testing and quality assurance.