Exclude files from Time Machine backups
tmexclude
A small macOS command-line tool to flag a file/folder to be excluded from Time Machine backups by setting the com.apple.metadata:com_apple_backup_excludeItem extended attribute.
USAGE: tmexclude --included --excluded [<path> ...]
ARGUMENTS:
<path> Path to a file/folder.
OPTIONS:
-i, --included/-e, --excluded
Flag the item to be included or excluded in backups.
--version Show the version.
-h, --help Show help information.
Example
$ touch foo.txt
$ tmexclude -e foo.txt
$ xattr foo.txt
com.apple.metadata:com_apple_backup_excludeItem
$ tmexclude -i foo.txt
$ xattr foo.txt
<no output>