Cruise Control

1. 1Pick a source folder and a destination
2. 2Choose how often it runs
3. 3Each run copies only new or changed files
4. 4Delete at the source: the destination keeps its copy

What it’s for

Cruise Control keeps a destination folder up to date with a source folder, on a schedule. Each run copies only new and changed files. It never deletes anything at the destination, so it’s safe to point at an archive.

Typical uses: shoot drive → NAS at the end of the day; working folder → backup drive every 15 minutes; a watch folder that an editor drops exports into.

Create a job

1. Open Cruise Control and click New job. A panel opens on the right, next to your list.
2. Name it, then drop or pick the source and destination folders. The destination can’t be the source or a folder inside it.
3. Pick how often it runs: 1, 5, 15, 30 minutes or 1 hour.
4. Click Create & start. The first check runs right away, then on its schedule while the app is open. Untick Start right away to create it paused.

If a run is still going when the next one is due, the next one is skipped rather than overlapping.

Controls

Each job card shows status, last run and next run. Click a card to open the job in the side panel:

• Pause / Start the schedule.
• Run now checks for changes immediately without changing the schedule (a paused job stays paused).
• Settings: change the name, folders, interval or notifications, then Save changes. Folders can’t change while a sync is running.
• Activity: every run, what it copied, and any errors. Click a folder name to open it in Finder.
• Delete (bin icon) removes the job. Your files in both folders are untouched.

Press Esc or the × to close the panel. If you have unsaved changes, the app asks before discarding them.

What gets copied

• New files at the source.
• Files that are newer at the source than at the destination.
• Nothing is removed from the destination, even if you delete it from the source.
• Junk files (.DS_Store and the like) are skipped.

Good to know

• The app must be running for schedules to fire. Leave it open on the machine that holds the source drive.
• If the source drive isn’t connected when a check runs, the job stops with Source folder not found. Reconnect the drive (or pick the folder again in the job’s settings) and press Start.
• With a Driver or Crew plan you can get an email or SMS when a sync starts, finishes or fails. See Notifications.