Question

I want to call rsync from Java using Runtime.exec() and I want to ignore hidden files/folders. The command is simple and works like a charm at the command line.

rsync -r --exclude=".*" source destination

I have tried many, many different combinations of breaking these arguments down correctly to be passed as a String[] to exec(). I have failed and I may be close to losing my mind.

Some examples of what I have tried

String[]{ "rsync", "-r", "--exclude", "=", ".*", source, destination});
String[]{ "rsync", "-r", "--exclude", "=", "\".*\"", source, destination});
String[]{ "rsync", "-r", "--exclude=\".*\"", source, destination});

Most of the time I end up with an exit 23 (which is “partial transfer due to error”), the transfer completes but includes hidden files/folders.

Answer 1

As said ".*" is evaluated by the shell. Better place all options in a file and do rsync @myfile.

BTW I wonder whether the original command excludes .* directories in subdirectories.