On: Today is the fifth anniversary of Aaron Swartz's d...

[codeulike]

This StackOverflow question from Aaron about using rsync to download and copy lots of files is like a piece of history frozen in time.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48491/keep-rsync-from-re...

[Vinnl → codeulike]

And the required context, for those coming across this: Aaron was under investigation for downloading an archive of academic articles from within MIT (because they'd otherwise cost a lot), presumably to make them available outside free of large, much like Sci-Hub does nowadays.

He committed suicide during the investigation, and it's supposedly not unlikely to be related to the pressure the investigation and trumped-up charges brought him. And then there's those that surmise he was murdered, of course.

See also this documentary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internet%27s_Own_Boy

[Vinnl → jjtheblunt]

Well, he hadn't shared it yet, so technically he was allowed to download those papers. (And even if he did, it'd have been piracy, but that's an age-old discussion that I'm not going to hold again.)

[acct1771 → jjtheblunt]

Theft removes ownership.

From all reasonable perspectives, he only committed copyright infringement.

Also, I hope you get Lou Gehrig's disease. Sorry in advance, d.

[SilasX → Vinnl]

Knowing that context (besides the suicide) makes the question so hilarious to read!

[johnalamos → SilasX]

tragic

[woliveirajr → codeulike]

And this got my attention:

> Last seen Jan 4 '13 at 19:23

[zaf → codeulike]

The names of his machines "speed" and "mass". Very cute.

[xyproto → codeulike]

The feature request to protect questions like his has been promptly downvoted on StackOverflow Meta:

https://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/361809/questions-fr...

[meagar → codeulike]

Please remember that Stack Overflow does not welcome any kind of meta commentary about a question's author in that question's comments or answers.

[n0us → meagar]

Stack Overflow does not welcome much of anything these days

[klausjensen → n0us]

[marked as duplicate]

[meagar → n0us]

Just good quality content, like always...

[Bromskloss → meagar]

Yep, in threads closed and marked "off topic".

[majewsky → n0us]

[thread closed as primarily opinion-based]

[switch007 → codeulike]

And of course someone added a revision just now, for some minor style tweaks.

[klez → switch007]

Also, the editor is a SO moderator

[nerdponx → klez]

The SO moderator was rolling back an edit made by another user.

[klez → nerdponx]

Yep, you're right, I didn't read the revision comment

[DC-3 → codeulike]

Wonder what his solution was. I'd be tempted to rebuild rsync with some download completion checks patched in.

[lixtra → DC-3]

Say your downloader times out after 3 min.

1. Use find to compile a list of files that have not changed: find /path/to -type f -mmin +3 > mylist.txt

2. Tell rsync only to sync files on the list: rsync -a --files-from=mylist.txt /path/to remote:/backup

3. Homework: make sure it does not barf on strange filename.

[rjmunro → lixtra]

You should post that answer on the question - it may be useful to someone else some time.

[traverseda → codeulike]

I still use his `html2text` python library on occasion.

[hnilsen → codeulike]

Is it not time for an annual "Upvote Aaron day"?

[klez → hnilsen]

Nope, if only because you can upvote a question only once and he only had five questions asked.

[hnilsen → klez]

It'll serve as a reminder, and if it gets traction it might be the most upvoted question on StackOverflow. I think that is a very fitting celebration of Aaron. Once every year, it'll reach a few more people.

[hanselot → codeulike]

Kind of close to tears, knowing the sacrifice this man made in the name of open access and freedom. May his name never be unwritten from history.