Mutagen Cheatsheet: Quick Reference for File Synchronization

Essential Commands and Tips for Efficient Syncing

A quick reference cheatsheet for Mutagen commands, including installation, sync session management, advanced options, and troubleshooting tips.

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Author
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Published

March 9, 2025

Modified

March 11, 2025

Keywords

Mutagen cheatsheet, quick reference, file synchronization, mutagen commands, install Mutagen

Introduction

This cheatsheet provides a concise overview of common Mutagen commands, flags, and workflows to help you efficiently manage file synchronization in your development environment.



Basic Commands

Installation

  • Command (macOS using Homebrew):

    brew install mutagen-io/mutagen/mutagen
  • Description:
    Installs Mutagen on macOS via Homebrew. For other platforms, refer to the respective installation instructions in our tutorials.

Check Installation and Version

  • Command:

    mutagen version
  • Description:
    Displays the currently installed Mutagen version to verify that the installation was successful.

Sync Session Management

Create a Sync Session

  • Command Example:

    mutagen sync create --name my-sync-session --ignore "node_modules/**" /path/to/local docker://container-name/path/in/container
  • Key Options:

    • --name: Assigns a unique identifier to the sync session.
    • --ignore: Excludes files or directories (useful for ignoring unnecessary files).
    • Endpoints:
      Specify the local source and target container path (use the docker:// prefix for container endpoints).

List Active Sync Sessions

  • Command:

    mutagen sync list
  • Description:
    Lists all active sync sessions and their statuses. Use this to monitor your ongoing sessions.

Pause a Sync Session

  • Command:

    mutagen sync pause my-sync-session
  • Description:
    Temporarily suspends synchronization for the specified session, useful during maintenance.

Resume a Sync Session

  • Command:

    mutagen sync resume my-sync-session
  • Description:
    Restarts a previously paused sync session.

Terminate a Sync Session

  • Command:

    mutagen sync terminate my-sync-session
  • Description:
    Stops and removes the specified sync session, allowing you to start a new session if needed.

Advanced Options and Configuration

Sync Modes Overview

  • two-way-resolved mode (Default): Synchronizes changes in both directions, ideal for collaborative workflows.
  • one-way-safe mode: Propagates changes only from the source to the destination, protecting source data.
  • one-way-replica mode: Mirrors the source exactly at the destination, useful for backups and deployment.

Additional Flags

  • Specifying Sync Mode:

    --mode two-way-resolved
  • Multiple Ignore Patterns:

    mutagen sync create --name my-sync --ignore "node_modules/**" --ignore "*.log" /local/path docker://container/path
  • Daemon Management:

    mutagen daemon start

    Ensure the Mutagen daemon is running to manage synchronization tasks.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Duplicate Session Error:
    If a session with the same name already exists, check with:

    mutagen sync list

    and terminate the duplicate session:

    mutagen sync terminate <session-name>
  • Command Not Recognized:
    If the mutagen command isn’t found, ensure the installation directory is in your system’s PATH.

  • Log Checks:
    Enable detailed logging (refer to our Installation and Configuring Mutagen tutorial for more info) for troubleshooting issues.

Further Reading

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Citation

BibTeX citation:
@online{kassambara2025,
  author = {Kassambara, Alboukadel},
  title = {Mutagen {Cheatsheet:} {Quick} {Reference} for {File}
    {Synchronization}},
  date = {2025-03-09},
  url = {https://www.datanovia.com/learn/tools/mutagen/cheatsheet.html},
  langid = {en}
}
For attribution, please cite this work as:
Kassambara, Alboukadel. 2025. “Mutagen Cheatsheet: Quick Reference for File Synchronization.” March 9, 2025. https://www.datanovia.com/learn/tools/mutagen/cheatsheet.html.