YeOldBackup

🧭 What It Is

YeOldBackup is a simple app for manually backing up folders or hard drives on macOS.
It uses the trusted rsync tool under the hood — but with a clean graphical interface.

You choose a source folder or hard drive (where your files are) and a target folder or hard drive (where you want the backup), and YeOldBackup will mirror the source to the target.
That means: new files are copied, changed files are updated, and files in the target that don’t exist in the source are deleted.

It's like a super-visible Time Machine. No cloud. No background syncing. Just you and your files.

✨ Why You Might Like It

• No Terminal, no rsync flags to remember
• No subscription, no bloat, no cloud dependencies
• Open source and free
• Built with love (and AI) for local-first tools
• Perfect for:
  • External drive backups
  • Manual file mirroring

🛠️ How It Works

1. You select a source and target folder.
2. The app runs a dry run using rsync to show what would be copied, changed, or deleted.
3. If a large number of deletions are detected, you’ll be asked to confirm.
4. You’ll see a progress bar and the file currently being transferred.
5. When it’s done, a full report appears with all the rsync details.
6. The app remembers your backups for future reuse.

Important: The target folder becomes an exact copy of the source. Anything in the target that doesn’t exist in the source will be deleted.

⚠️ Use With Caution

YeOldBackup is a tool, not a safety net. It’s provided “as is”: vibe-coded and minimal. Please read carefully:

• Deletions are permanent. The target folder is mirrored.
• Double-check source and target paths before syncing.
• Full Disk Access is required on macOS, especially for external or system folders.
• External drives must be connected and accessible before launching the app.
• You should have other backups in case something goes wrong.

Use at your own risk. Always be careful with your data.

🧩 Getting Started

1. Download the App
2. Move YeOldBackup.app to your Applications folder
3. Launch the app
4. Grant Full Disk Access:
   • Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access
   • Add YeOldBackup.app and enable it
5. Select your source and target folders
6. Click "Sync Now" when ready

You can also clone the repo and build it yourself in Xcode if you're into that.

❓ FAQ

Does this replace Time Machine?
No. Time Machine does automatic backups over time. YeOldBackup is manual and minimal.

Can I use it with external drives?
Yes. Just make sure the drive is mounted.

Does it support network drives?
It can work, but performance depends on the network. Use with caution.

What does “mirror” mean exactly?
It means the target becomes a copy of the source. Files not in the source get deleted from the target.

Does it run in the background?
Nope. It only does what you tell it to do. No hidden services.

👨‍🔧 About This Project

YeOldBackup was vibe coded as a side project. It’s intentionally minimal, open source, and not meant to be a commercial product.

If you find it useful, that’s great. If not, that’s fine too. Either way: back up your stuff ✌️

🤝 Contributing

This project is small and vibe-coded, but all improvements are welcome!

If you notice something that could be better, cleaner, safer, or more helpful, feel free to open a PR. Whether it's fixing a bug, improving UI details, or adding a feature, it's appreciated 🙌

→ Contribute on GitHub