File sync solution with pattern matching

Question

I have a directory I want to sync over the cloud using a service like Dropbox. But, within that folder, I only want to sync directories that match a particular pattern.

For instance, sync all folders except folders named node_modules.

Do you know of any way to do this? Here are some ideas I had, and their pitfalls:

1. Using any sync service, say, Dropbox, set up an AppleScript to watch changes in some directory on my computer. If the change is not in node_modules, push it over to the Dropbox folder location. Issues: Does not have two-way sync.

2. Solve the issue of #1 by utilizing rsync in some clever way. Issues: Race condition handling? I'm worried about two computers modifying the same file within too short a time frame, and rsync freaking out.

Have you dealt with this issue before? What's your solution?

To clarify, this isn't about excluding a single, or even a finite number of directories. I want to exclude any and all directories/files that match a given pattern, wherever they may be in the folder. So I might have 1000 node_modules directories within my synced directory, and they are all excluded.

Answer 1

Install a software called syncback

1 - Create a New Profile

2 - Choose Synchronize

3 - Click on Change Filter

4 - Click to Add a folder NOT to copy

5 - Type *\node_modules\

(Click on help to see advanced rules for filters, very important!)

6 - Confirm that changes will work (Created a test folder to try out rules)

Click Ok.

Enjoy!