In September 2005, I decided I wanted a version of rsync with three new features: preserving executability, obeying default ACLs, and inheriting directory setgid. I coded them myself, albeit somewhat messily since I was new to the project, and sent my changes to the mailing list. When no one responded, I got impatient and on October 15, 2005 began to release a modified version of rsync with my improvements right on this page.* The versions were named rsync-2.6.6.matt.x for x from 1 to 7. Finally, beginning on January 19, 2006, Wayne Davison, the maintainer, began to consider my changes. They all went into the official rsync 2.6.7 in somewhat cleaned-up form.
Meanwhile, I learned more about rsync. I started helping people on its mailing list and became involved in development beyond the three initial features. In particular, I championed the cause of ACLs. Wayne and I brought the ACL support from a hack that worked in the most common cases to a well-designed feature that plays nicely with the rest of rsync. I continue to help with development and support.
More information is available in the CVS revision log of acls.diff.