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Show HN: Syq – copy files between machines fast (better than rsync)

2026-09-10 | original

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Why This Matters

Syq is a new file-transfer and file-operations tool pitched as a faster, more programmable alternative to rsync, with resumable transfers, a JSON API and Python SDK, and reverse transfers that let a server push files to a laptop without an SSH server or open inbound port. Rsync is deeply entrenched in ops workflows, so a credible challenger with scripting hooks matters to sysadmins, developers, and data teams. Its rsync-compatible command syntax lowers the switching cost, though it is not a drop-in replacement.

Key Takeaways

Offers an rsync-style CLI (syq rsync -av ...) plus resumable transfers and dry-run previews, but runs on its own protocol.
Programmable via a JSON API and Python SDK, and can push files or run commands on a laptop without an SSH server or inbound port.
Not feature-complete versus rsync: no filter rules, hard links, ACLs, xattrs, sparse files, or rolling-checksum deltas, so existing scripts need vetting.

Worth a Look

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syq Fast, programmable file operations.

Copy, reorganize and remove files—locally or across machines. Resume interrupted transfers, send files to your laptop or run commands there from a server’s remote shell, and script syq using the JSON API or Python SDK. Your laptop needs no SSH server or incoming network port.

Replace server with an SSH hostname or alias you normally connect to, and project with a local directory:

syq cp project --to server --into backup

This creates or updates backup/project in your home directory on the server. To copy the contents of project directly into backup , use --srcs-in :

syq cp --srcs-in project --to server --into backup

Use --dry-run to preview a summary without copying, or --dry-run -v to list the planned changes by path. Existing destination files are updated when needed. Unrelated files stay unless you request --prune .

Start with your usual command, prefixed by syq :

syq rsync -av project/ server:backup/project/ syq rsync -av server:data/ ./data/

Syq supports common rsync options, but uses its own protocol. Rsync filter rules, hard links, ACLs, xattrs, sparse files, and rolling-checksum deltas are not supported. Check rsync compatibility before substituting it in an existing script.

Explore topics: syq rsync file transfer ssh python sdk