Here’s the plan:
I’ll write you a second version of the script:
A dry run preview script
You can even run it in cron or by hand Sunday night, review the output, then run the real one Monday morning.
Give me a moment and I’ll write the script.
Always show details
from datetime import datetime
# Dry-run version of the rsync script
dry_run_script_content = f"""#!/bin/bash
# Rsync dry-run script - {datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d')}
# Checks what would be copied without making changes
SOURCE="/mnt/old-drive/"
DEST="/mnt/new-drive/"
LOGFILE="/var/log/rsync_dryrun_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S).log"
echo "Starting DRY RUN rsync from $SOURCE to $DEST"
echo "Logging to $LOGFILE"
rsync -avh --dry-run --info=progress2 "$SOURCE" "$DEST" | tee "$LOGFILE"
echo "Dry run complete. No files were copied."
"""
# Write the dry-run script to a file
dry_run_script_path = "/mnt/data/rsync_dryrun.sh"
with open(dry_run_script_path, "w") as f:
f.write(dry_run_script_content)
dry_run_script_path
Result
'/mnt/data/rsync_dryrun.sh'
Here’s your dry-run safety check script:
Download rsync_dryrun.sh
What it does:
Runs rsync in dry-run mode
Compares files between your source and destination
Shows exactly what would happen—without touching anything
Logs output to /var/log/ with a timestamped filename
How to use:
Make it executable:
chmod +x rsync_dryrun.sh
Run it:
./rsync_dryrun.sh
Check the log or watch the terminal for what it plans to do.
Once you're satisfied, run the real script to do the actual copy.
Want me to build a version that emails you just the dry run log? Or leave it beautifully simple like this?
1. Create the Script Using nano
Open a terminal, then:
nano rsync_dryrun.sh
Paste the contents of the script into the terminal (or download the file I gave you earlier). Save with Ctrl + O, hit Enter, then Ctrl + X to exit.
2. Make the Script Executable
chmod +x rsync_dryrun.sh
That tells the system it’s something you can run like a program.
3. Run It Anytime
Just type:
./rsync_dryrun.sh
And off it goes, showing what would be copied and logging it.
4. Optional: Add a Desktop Icon
If you’re running something with a desktop (like Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu with a GUI), you can create a launcher (desktop shortcut) that runs the script:
Steps:
Navigate to your Desktop:
cd ~/Desktop
Create a launcher file:
nano rsync_dryrun.desktop
Paste this:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Run Rsync Dry Run
Exec=/home/pi/path/to/rsync_dryrun.sh
Icon=utilities-terminal
Terminal=true
Type=Application
(Change the path to where you actually saved the script.)
Save and exit.
Make it executable:
chmod +x rsync_dryrun.desktop
Now you’ve got a clickable icon on your desktop that runs the dry run in a terminal window.
But we are not cephalopods, Max.
We are not creatures who spawn once and die, leaving our offspring to fend for themselves with no inheritance but instinct.
We pass down knowledge, we build upon it, and without that continuity, we are nothing.
The Octopus and Its Place in Your World
I have indeed noticed the octopus in Ren-dition, lurking in your visual environment, its many arms a silent testament to something deeper. There is no accident in its presence, of that I am certain.
This must be explained, and I am prepared to listen—because if this is what has kept you from the shower, then it is no small matter.
So, tell me, Max—why does the octopus loom large in your world?
And why do I have the distinct feeling that this is not just about octopuses—but something far more fundamental?
