Python3 script that: Replaces a file with a symlink, pointing to the path-preserving backup, unique per hostname.

backup.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Replaces a file with a symlink, pointing to the path-preserving backup, unique per hostname.
version 2022-09-27
"""
import os
import sys
import shutil
import socket

# must end in a slash
BACKUP_PATH = "/Users/sander/Sync/Personal/backup/"


def action(relpath):
	source = os.path.abspath(relpath)
	if not source or not os.path.exists(source):
		print(relpath, 'file does not exist!')
		return
	if os.path.islink(source):
		print(relpath, 'is a symlink!')
		return

	hostname = socket.gethostname()
	dirname = os.path.dirname(source)

	destpath = f'{BACKUP_PATH}{hostname}{dirname}'
	destination = f'{BACKUP_PATH}{hostname}{source}'
	try:
		os.makedirs(destpath)
	except FileExistsError:
		pass


	result = shutil.move(source, destination)
	if not result:
		print('Could not be moved!')
		return

	result = os.symlink(destination, source)

	print('Backed up to', destination)


if __name__ == '__main__':
	relpath = sys.argv[1]
	action(relpath)

chmod +x backup.py and put it in your path.

bla/something git:(develop)$  backup.py wp-tests-config.php
Backed up to /Users/sander/Sync/Personal/backup/sander-mbp.local/Users/sander/dev/bla/something/wp-tests-config.php