Allow the user to add extra paths to harvest, or

paths to ignore, using `--exclude-path` and
`--include-path` arguments.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# 0.1.3
+
+ * Allow the user to add extra paths to harvest, or paths to ignore, using `--exclude-path` and `--include-path`
+   arguments.
+
 # 0.1.2
 
  * Include files from `/usr/local/bin` and `/usr/local/etc` in harvest (assuming they aren't binaries or

README.md

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ Harvest state about a host and write a harvest bundle.
 - Changed-from-default config (plus related custom/unowned files under service dirs)
 - Non-system users + SSH public keys
 - Misc `/etc` that can’t be attributed to a package (`etc_custom` role)
+- Optional user-specified extra files/dirs via `--include-path` (emitted as an `extra_paths` role at manifest time)
 
 **Common flags**
 - Remote harvesting:
@@ -79,6 +80,14 @@ Harvest state about a host and write a harvest bundle.
   - `--dangerous`: disables secret-safety checks (see “Sensitive data” below)
 - Encrypt bundles at rest:
   - `--sops <FINGERPRINT...>`: writes a single encrypted `harvest.tar.gz.sops` instead of a plaintext directory
+- Path selection (include/exclude):
+  - `--include-path <PATTERN>` (repeatable): add extra files/dirs to harvest (even from locations normally ignored, like `/home`). Still subject to secret-safety checks unless `--dangerous`.
+  - `--exclude-path <PATTERN>` (repeatable): skip files/dirs even if they would normally be harvested.
+  - Pattern syntax:
+    - plain path: matches that file; directories match the directory + everything under it
+    - glob (default): supports `*` and `**` (prefix with `glob:` to force)
+    - regex: prefix with `re:` or `regex:`
+  - Precedence: excludes win over includes.
 
 ---
 
@@ -227,6 +236,23 @@ enroll harvest --out /tmp/enroll-harvest
 enroll harvest --remote-host myhost.example.com --remote-user myuser --out /tmp/enroll-harvest
 ```
 
+### Include paths (`--include-path`)
+```bash
+# Add a few dotfiles from /home (still secret-safe unless --dangerous)
+enroll harvest --out /tmp/enroll-harvest --include-path '/home/*/.bashrc' --include-path '/home/*/.profile'
+```
+
+### Exclude paths (`--exclude-path`)
+```bash
+# Skip specific /usr/local/bin entries (or patterns)
+enroll harvest --out /tmp/enroll-harvest --exclude-path '/usr/local/bin/docker-*' --exclude-path '/usr/local/bin/some-tool'
+```
+
+### Regex include
+```bash
+enroll harvest --out /tmp/enroll-harvest --include-path 're:^/home/[^/]+/\.config/myapp/.*$'
+```
+
 ### `--dangerous`
 ```bash
 enroll harvest --out /tmp/enroll-harvest --dangerous

enroll/cli.py

@@ -125,6 +125,27 @@ def main() -> None:
         action="store_true",
         help="Collect files more aggressively (may include secrets). Disables secret-avoidance checks.",
     )
+    h.add_argument(
+        "--include-path",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        metavar="PATTERN",
+        help=(
+            "Include extra file paths to harvest (repeatable). Supports globs (including '**') and regex via 're:<regex>'. "
+            "Included files are still filtered by IgnorePolicy unless --dangerous is used."
+        ),
+    )
+    h.add_argument(
+        "--exclude-path",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        metavar="PATTERN",
+        help=(
+            "Exclude file paths from harvesting (repeatable). Supports globs (including '**') and regex via 're:<regex>'. "
+            "Excludes apply to all harvesting, including defaults."
+        ),
+    )
+
     h.add_argument(
         "--sops",
         nargs="+",
@@ -186,6 +207,27 @@ def main() -> None:
         action="store_true",
         help="Collect files more aggressively (may include secrets). Disables secret-avoidance checks.",
     )
+    s.add_argument(
+        "--include-path",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        metavar="PATTERN",
+        help=(
+            "Include extra file paths to harvest (repeatable). Supports globs (including '**') and regex via 're:<regex>'. "
+            "Included files are still filtered by IgnorePolicy unless --dangerous is used."
+        ),
+    )
+    s.add_argument(
+        "--exclude-path",
+        action="append",
+        default=[],
+        metavar="PATTERN",
+        help=(
+            "Exclude file paths from harvesting (repeatable). Supports globs (including '**') and regex via 're:<regex>'. "
+            "Excludes apply to all harvesting, including defaults."
+        ),
+    )
+
     s.add_argument(
         "--sops",
         nargs="+",
@@ -320,6 +362,8 @@ def main() -> None:
                             remote_user=args.remote_user,
                             dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
                             no_sudo=bool(args.no_sudo),
+                            include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                            exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
                         )
                         _encrypt_harvest_dir_to_sops(
                             tmp_bundle, out_file, list(sops_fps)
@@ -338,6 +382,8 @@ def main() -> None:
                         remote_user=args.remote_user,
                         dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
                         no_sudo=bool(args.no_sudo),
+                        include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                        exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
                     )
                     print(str(state))
             else:
@@ -350,7 +396,12 @@ def main() -> None:
                             os.chmod(tmp_bundle, 0o700)
                         except OSError:
                             pass
-                        harvest(str(tmp_bundle), dangerous=bool(args.dangerous))
+                        harvest(
+                            str(tmp_bundle),
+                            dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
+                            include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                            exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
+                        )
                         _encrypt_harvest_dir_to_sops(
                             tmp_bundle, out_file, list(sops_fps)
                         )
@@ -360,7 +411,12 @@ def main() -> None:
                         raise SystemExit(
                             "error: --out is required unless --remote-host is set"
                         )
-                    path = harvest(args.out, dangerous=bool(args.dangerous))
+                    path = harvest(
+                        args.out,
+                        dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
+                        include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                        exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
+                    )
                     print(path)
         elif args.cmd == "manifest":
             out_enc = manifest(
@@ -446,6 +502,8 @@ def main() -> None:
                             remote_user=args.remote_user,
                             dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
                             no_sudo=bool(args.no_sudo),
+                            include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                            exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
                         )
                         _encrypt_harvest_dir_to_sops(
                             tmp_bundle, out_file, list(sops_fps)
@@ -473,6 +531,8 @@ def main() -> None:
                         remote_user=args.remote_user,
                         dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
                         no_sudo=bool(args.no_sudo),
+                        include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                        exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
                     )
                     manifest(
                         str(harvest_dir),
@@ -493,7 +553,12 @@ def main() -> None:
                             os.chmod(tmp_bundle, 0o700)
                         except OSError:
                             pass
-                        harvest(str(tmp_bundle), dangerous=bool(args.dangerous))
+                        harvest(
+                            str(tmp_bundle),
+                            dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
+                            include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                            exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
+                        )
                         _encrypt_harvest_dir_to_sops(
                             tmp_bundle, out_file, list(sops_fps)
                         )
@@ -512,7 +577,12 @@ def main() -> None:
                         raise SystemExit(
                             "error: --harvest is required unless --remote-host is set"
                         )
-                    harvest(args.harvest, dangerous=bool(args.dangerous))
+                    harvest(
+                        args.harvest,
+                        dangerous=bool(args.dangerous),
+                        include_paths=list(getattr(args, "include_path", []) or []),
+                        exclude_paths=list(getattr(args, "exclude_path", []) or []),
+                    )
                     manifest(
                         args.harvest,
                         args.out,

enroll/diff.py

@@ -196,6 +196,12 @@ def _iter_managed_files(state: Dict[str, Any]) -> Iterable[Tuple[str, Dict[str,
     for mf in ul.get("managed_files", []) or []:
         yield str(ul_role), mf
 
+    # extra_paths
+    xp = state.get("extra_paths") or {}
+    xp_role = xp.get("role_name") or "extra_paths"
+    for mf in xp.get("managed_files", []) or []:
+        yield str(xp_role), mf
+
 
 def _file_index(bundle_dir: Path, state: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, FileRec]:
     """Return mapping of absolute path -> FileRec.

enroll/harvest.py

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from .debian import (
     stat_triplet,
 )
 from .ignore import IgnorePolicy
+from .pathfilter import PathFilter, expand_includes
 from .accounts import collect_non_system_users
 
 
@@ -86,6 +87,16 @@ class UsrLocalCustomSnapshot:
     notes: List[str]
 
 
+@dataclass
+class ExtraPathsSnapshot:
+    role_name: str
+    include_patterns: List[str]
+    exclude_patterns: List[str]
+    managed_files: List[ManagedFile]
+    excluded: List[ExcludedFile]
+    notes: List[str]
+
+
 ALLOWED_UNOWNED_EXTS = {
     ".conf",
     ".cfg",
@@ -250,6 +261,8 @@ def harvest(
     policy: Optional[IgnorePolicy] = None,
     *,
     dangerous: bool = False,
+    include_paths: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+    exclude_paths: Optional[List[str]] = None,
 ) -> str:
     # If a policy is not supplied, build one. `--dangerous` relaxes secret
     # detection and deny-glob skipping.
@@ -261,6 +274,10 @@ def harvest(
         policy.dangerous = True
     os.makedirs(bundle_dir, exist_ok=True)
 
+    # User-provided includes/excludes. Excludes apply to all harvesting;
+    # includes are harvested into an extra role.
+    path_filter = PathFilter(include=include_paths or (), exclude=exclude_paths or ())
+
     if hasattr(os, "geteuid") and os.geteuid() != 0:
         print(
             "Warning: not running as root; harvest may miss files or metadata.",
@@ -406,6 +423,9 @@ def harvest(
             )
 
         for path, reason in sorted(candidates.items()):
+            if path_filter.is_excluded(path):
+                excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="user_excluded"))
+                continue
             deny = policy.deny_reason(path)
             if deny:
                 excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason=deny))
@@ -522,6 +542,9 @@ def harvest(
                     candidates.setdefault(r, "custom_specific_path")
 
         for path, reason in sorted(candidates.items()):
+            if path_filter.is_excluded(path):
+                excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="user_excluded"))
+                continue
             deny = policy.deny_reason(path)
             if deny:
                 excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason=deny))
@@ -593,6 +616,9 @@ def harvest(
 
         # Copy only safe SSH public material: authorized_keys + *.pub
         for sf in u.ssh_files:
+            if path_filter.is_excluded(sf):
+                users_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=sf, reason="user_excluded"))
+                continue
             deny = policy.deny_reason(sf)
             if deny:
                 users_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=sf, reason=deny))
@@ -665,6 +691,10 @@ def harvest(
             if not _is_confish(path):
                 continue
 
+            if path_filter.is_excluded(path):
+                etc_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="user_excluded"))
+                continue
+
             deny = policy.deny_reason(path)
             if deny:
                 etc_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason=deny))
@@ -754,6 +784,10 @@ def harvest(
                         ul_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="unreadable"))
                         continue
 
+                if path_filter.is_excluded(path):
+                    ul_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="user_excluded"))
+                    continue
+
                 deny = policy.deny_reason(path)
                 if deny:
                     ul_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason=deny))
@@ -806,6 +840,81 @@ def harvest(
         notes=ul_notes,
     )
 
+    # -------------------------
+    # extra_paths role (user-requested includes)
+    # -------------------------
+    extra_notes: List[str] = []
+    extra_excluded: List[ExcludedFile] = []
+    extra_managed: List[ManagedFile] = []
+    extra_role_name = "extra_paths"
+
+    include_specs = list(include_paths or [])
+    exclude_specs = list(exclude_paths or [])
+
+    if include_specs:
+        extra_notes.append("User include patterns:")
+        extra_notes.extend([f"- {p}" for p in include_specs])
+    if exclude_specs:
+        extra_notes.append("User exclude patterns:")
+        extra_notes.extend([f"- {p}" for p in exclude_specs])
+
+    included_files: List[str] = []
+    if include_specs:
+        files, inc_notes = expand_includes(
+            path_filter.iter_include_patterns(),
+            exclude=path_filter,
+            max_files=4000,
+        )
+        included_files = files
+        extra_notes.extend(inc_notes)
+
+    for path in included_files:
+        if path in already_all:
+            continue
+
+        if path_filter.is_excluded(path):
+            extra_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="user_excluded"))
+            continue
+
+        deny = policy.deny_reason(path)
+        if deny:
+            extra_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason=deny))
+            continue
+
+        try:
+            owner, group, mode = stat_triplet(path)
+        except OSError:
+            extra_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="unreadable"))
+            continue
+
+        src_rel = path.lstrip("/")
+        try:
+            _copy_into_bundle(bundle_dir, extra_role_name, path, src_rel)
+        except OSError:
+            extra_excluded.append(ExcludedFile(path=path, reason="unreadable"))
+            continue
+
+        extra_managed.append(
+            ManagedFile(
+                path=path,
+                src_rel=src_rel,
+                owner=owner,
+                group=group,
+                mode=mode,
+                reason="user_include",
+            )
+        )
+        already_all.add(path)
+
+    extra_paths_snapshot = ExtraPathsSnapshot(
+        role_name=extra_role_name,
+        include_patterns=include_specs,
+        exclude_patterns=exclude_specs,
+        managed_files=extra_managed,
+        excluded=extra_excluded,
+        notes=extra_notes,
+    )
+
     state = {
         "host": {"hostname": os.uname().nodename, "os": "debian"},
         "users": asdict(users_snapshot),
@@ -815,6 +924,7 @@ def harvest(
         "package_roles": [asdict(p) for p in pkg_snaps],
         "etc_custom": asdict(etc_custom_snapshot),
         "usr_local_custom": asdict(usr_local_custom_snapshot),
+        "extra_paths": asdict(extra_paths_snapshot),
     }
 
     state_path = os.path.join(bundle_dir, "state.json")

enroll/manifest.py

@@ -630,6 +630,7 @@ def _manifest_from_bundle_dir(
     users_snapshot: Dict[str, Any] = state.get("users", {})
     etc_custom_snapshot: Dict[str, Any] = state.get("etc_custom", {})
     usr_local_custom_snapshot: Dict[str, Any] = state.get("usr_local_custom", {})
+    extra_paths_snapshot: Dict[str, Any] = state.get("extra_paths", {})
 
     site_mode = fqdn is not None and fqdn != ""
 
@@ -663,6 +664,7 @@ def _manifest_from_bundle_dir(
     manifested_users_roles: List[str] = []
     manifested_etc_custom_roles: List[str] = []
     manifested_usr_local_custom_roles: List[str] = []
+    manifested_extra_paths_roles: List[str] = []
     manifested_service_roles: List[str] = []
     manifested_pkg_roles: List[str] = []
 
@@ -1098,6 +1100,118 @@ Unowned /etc config files not attributed to packages or services.
 
         manifested_usr_local_custom_roles.append(role)
 
+    # -------------------------
+    # extra_paths role (user-requested includes)
+    # -------------------------
+    if extra_paths_snapshot and extra_paths_snapshot.get("managed_files"):
+        role = extra_paths_snapshot.get("role_name", "extra_paths")
+        role_dir = os.path.join(roles_root, role)
+        _write_role_scaffold(role_dir)
+
+        var_prefix = role
+
+        managed_files = extra_paths_snapshot.get("managed_files", [])
+        excluded = extra_paths_snapshot.get("excluded", [])
+        notes = extra_paths_snapshot.get("notes", [])
+        include_pats = extra_paths_snapshot.get("include_patterns", []) or []
+        exclude_pats = extra_paths_snapshot.get("exclude_patterns", []) or []
+
+        templated, jt_vars = _jinjify_managed_files(
+            bundle_dir,
+            role,
+            role_dir,
+            managed_files,
+            jt_exe=jt_exe,
+            jt_enabled=jt_enabled,
+            overwrite_templates=not site_mode,
+        )
+
+        if site_mode:
+            _copy_artifacts(
+                bundle_dir,
+                role,
+                _host_role_files_dir(out_dir, fqdn or "", role),
+                exclude_rels=templated,
+            )
+        else:
+            _copy_artifacts(
+                bundle_dir,
+                role,
+                os.path.join(role_dir, "files"),
+                exclude_rels=templated,
+            )
+
+        files_var = _build_managed_files_var(
+            managed_files,
+            templated,
+            notify_other=None,
+            notify_systemd=None,
+        )
+
+        jt_map = _yaml_load_mapping(jt_vars) if jt_vars.strip() else {}
+        vars_map: Dict[str, Any] = {f"{var_prefix}_managed_files": files_var}
+        vars_map = _merge_mappings_overwrite(vars_map, jt_map)
+
+        if site_mode:
+            _write_role_defaults(role_dir, {f"{var_prefix}_managed_files": []})
+            _write_hostvars(out_dir, fqdn or "", role, vars_map)
+        else:
+            _write_role_defaults(role_dir, vars_map)
+
+        tasks = "---\n" + _render_generic_files_tasks(
+            var_prefix, include_restart_notify=False
+        )
+        with open(
+            os.path.join(role_dir, "tasks", "main.yml"), "w", encoding="utf-8"
+        ) as f:
+            f.write(tasks.rstrip() + "\n")
+
+        with open(
+            os.path.join(role_dir, "handlers", "main.yml"), "w", encoding="utf-8"
+        ) as f:
+            f.write("---\n")
+
+        with open(
+            os.path.join(role_dir, "meta", "main.yml"), "w", encoding="utf-8"
+        ) as f:
+            f.write("---\ndependencies: []\n")
+
+        readme = (
+            f"""# {role}
+
+User-requested extra file harvesting.
+
+## Include patterns
+"""
+            + ("\n".join([f"- {p}" for p in include_pats]) or "- (none)")
+            + """\n
+## Exclude patterns
+"""
+            + ("\n".join([f"- {p}" for p in exclude_pats]) or "- (none)")
+            + """\n
+## Managed files
+"""
+            + ("\n".join([f"- {mf.get('path')}" for mf in managed_files]) or "- (none)")
+            + """\n
+## Excluded
+"""
+            + (
+                "\n".join([f"- {e.get('path')} ({e.get('reason')})" for e in excluded])
+                or "- (none)"
+            )
+            + """\n
+## Notes
+"""
+            + ("\n".join([f"- {n}" for n in notes]) or "- (none)")
+            + """\n"""
+        )
+        with open(os.path.join(role_dir, "README.md"), "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            f.write(readme)
+
+        manifested_extra_paths_roles.append(role)
+
+        manifested_usr_local_custom_roles.append(role)
+
     # -------------------------
 
     # -------------------------
@@ -1412,6 +1526,7 @@ Generated for package `{pkg}`.
         + manifested_service_roles
         + manifested_etc_custom_roles
         + manifested_usr_local_custom_roles
+        + manifested_extra_paths_roles
         + manifested_users_roles
     )
 

enroll/pathfilter.py

@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import glob
+import os
+import re
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import PurePosixPath
+from typing import List, Optional, Sequence, Set, Tuple
+
+
+_REGEX_PREFIXES = ("re:", "regex:")
+
+
+def _has_glob_chars(s: str) -> bool:
+    return any(ch in s for ch in "*?[")
+
+
+def _norm_abs(p: str) -> str:
+    """Normalise a path-ish string to an absolute POSIX path.
+
+    We treat inputs that don't start with '/' as being relative to '/'.
+    """
+
+    p = p.strip()
+    if not p:
+        return "/"
+    if not p.startswith("/"):
+        p = "/" + p
+    # `normpath` keeps a leading '/' for absolute paths.
+    return os.path.normpath(p)
+
+
+def _posix_match(path: str, pattern: str) -> bool:
+    """Path matching with glob semantics.
+
+    Uses PurePosixPath.match which:
+      - treats '/' as a segment separator
+      - supports '**' for recursive matching
+
+    Both `path` and `pattern` are treated as absolute paths.
+    """
+
+    # PurePosixPath.match is anchored and works best on relative strings.
+    p = path.lstrip("/")
+    pat = pattern.lstrip("/")
+    try:
+        return PurePosixPath(p).match(pat)
+    except Exception:
+        # If the pattern is somehow invalid, fail closed.
+        return False
+
+
+def _regex_literal_prefix(regex: str) -> str:
+    """Best-effort literal prefix extraction for a regex.
+
+    This lets us pick a starting directory to walk when expanding regex-based
+    include patterns.
+    """
+
+    s = regex
+    if s.startswith("^"):
+        s = s[1:]
+    out: List[str] = []
+    escaped = False
+    meta = set(".^$*+?{}[]\\|()")
+    for ch in s:
+        if escaped:
+            out.append(ch)
+            escaped = False
+            continue
+        if ch == "\\":
+            escaped = True
+            continue
+        if ch in meta:
+            break
+        out.append(ch)
+    return "".join(out)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class CompiledPathPattern:
+    raw: str
+    kind: str  # 'prefix' | 'glob' | 'regex'
+    value: str
+    regex: Optional[re.Pattern[str]] = None
+
+    def matches(self, path: str) -> bool:
+        p = _norm_abs(path)
+
+        if self.kind == "regex":
+            if not self.regex:
+                return False
+            # Search (not match) so users can write unanchored patterns.
+            return self.regex.search(p) is not None
+
+        if self.kind == "glob":
+            return _posix_match(p, self.value)
+
+        # prefix
+        pref = self.value.rstrip("/")
+        return p == pref or p.startswith(pref + "/")
+
+
+def compile_path_pattern(raw: str) -> CompiledPathPattern:
+    s = raw.strip()
+    for pre in _REGEX_PREFIXES:
+        if s.startswith(pre):
+            rex = s[len(pre) :].strip()
+            try:
+                return CompiledPathPattern(
+                    raw=raw, kind="regex", value=rex, regex=re.compile(rex)
+                )
+            except re.error:
+                # Treat invalid regexes as non-matching.
+                return CompiledPathPattern(raw=raw, kind="regex", value=rex, regex=None)
+
+    # If the user explicitly says glob:, honour it.
+    if s.startswith("glob:"):
+        pat = s[len("glob:") :].strip()
+        return CompiledPathPattern(raw=raw, kind="glob", value=_norm_abs(pat))
+
+    # Heuristic: if it contains glob metacharacters, treat as a glob.
+    if _has_glob_chars(s) or "**" in s:
+        return CompiledPathPattern(raw=raw, kind="glob", value=_norm_abs(s))
+
+    # Otherwise treat as an exact path-or-prefix (dir subtree).
+    return CompiledPathPattern(raw=raw, kind="prefix", value=_norm_abs(s))
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PathFilter:
+    """User-provided path filters.
+
+    Semantics:
+      - exclude patterns always win
+      - include patterns are used only to expand *additional* files to harvest
+        (they do not restrict the default harvest set)
+
+    Patterns:
+      - By default: glob-like (supports '**')
+      - Regex: prefix with 're:' or 'regex:'
+      - Force glob: prefix with 'glob:'
+      - A plain path without wildcards matches that path and everything under it
+        (directory-prefix behavior).
+
+    Examples:
+      --exclude-path /usr/local/bin/docker-*
+      --include-path /home/*/.bashrc
+      --include-path 're:^/home/[^/]+/.config/myapp/.*$'
+    """
+
+    include: Sequence[str] = ()
+    exclude: Sequence[str] = ()
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        self._include = [
+            compile_path_pattern(p) for p in self.include if str(p).strip()
+        ]
+        self._exclude = [
+            compile_path_pattern(p) for p in self.exclude if str(p).strip()
+        ]
+
+    def is_excluded(self, path: str) -> bool:
+        for pat in self._exclude:
+            if pat.matches(path):
+                return True
+        return False
+
+    def iter_include_patterns(self) -> List[CompiledPathPattern]:
+        return list(self._include)
+
+
+def expand_includes(
+    patterns: Sequence[CompiledPathPattern],
+    *,
+    exclude: Optional[PathFilter] = None,
+    max_files: int = 4000,
+) -> Tuple[List[str], List[str]]:
+    """Expand include patterns into concrete file paths.
+
+    Returns (paths, notes). The returned paths are absolute paths.
+
+    This function is intentionally conservative:
+      - symlinks are ignored (both dirs and files)
+      - the number of collected files is capped
+
+    Regex patterns are expanded by walking a best-effort inferred root.
+    """
+
+    out: List[str] = []
+    notes: List[str] = []
+    seen: Set[str] = set()
+
+    def _maybe_add_file(p: str) -> None:
+        if len(out) >= max_files:
+            return
+        p = _norm_abs(p)
+        if exclude and exclude.is_excluded(p):
+            return
+        if p in seen:
+            return
+        if not os.path.isfile(p) or os.path.islink(p):
+            return
+        seen.add(p)
+        out.append(p)
+
+    def _walk_dir(root: str, match: Optional[CompiledPathPattern] = None) -> None:
+        root = _norm_abs(root)
+        if not os.path.isdir(root) or os.path.islink(root):
+            return
+        for dirpath, dirnames, filenames in os.walk(root, followlinks=False):
+            # Prune excluded directories early.
+            if exclude:
+                dirnames[:] = [
+                    d
+                    for d in dirnames
+                    if not exclude.is_excluded(os.path.join(dirpath, d))
+                    and not os.path.islink(os.path.join(dirpath, d))
+                ]
+            for fn in filenames:
+                if len(out) >= max_files:
+                    return
+                p = os.path.join(dirpath, fn)
+                if os.path.islink(p) or not os.path.isfile(p):
+                    continue
+                if exclude and exclude.is_excluded(p):
+                    continue
+                if match is not None and not match.matches(p):
+                    continue
+                if p in seen:
+                    continue
+                seen.add(p)
+                out.append(_norm_abs(p))
+
+    for pat in patterns:
+        if len(out) >= max_files:
+            notes.append(
+                f"Include cap reached ({max_files}); some includes were not expanded."
+            )
+            break
+
+        matched_any = False
+
+        if pat.kind == "prefix":
+            p = pat.value
+            if os.path.isfile(p) and not os.path.islink(p):
+                _maybe_add_file(p)
+                matched_any = True
+            elif os.path.isdir(p) and not os.path.islink(p):
+                before = len(out)
+                _walk_dir(p)
+                matched_any = len(out) > before
+            else:
+                # Still allow prefix patterns that don't exist now (e.g. remote different)
+                # by matching nothing rather than erroring.
+                matched_any = False
+
+        elif pat.kind == "glob":
+            # Use glob for expansion; also walk directories that match.
+            gpat = pat.value
+            hits = glob.glob(gpat, recursive=True)
+            for h in hits:
+                if len(out) >= max_files:
+                    break
+                h = _norm_abs(h)
+                if exclude and exclude.is_excluded(h):
+                    continue
+                if os.path.isdir(h) and not os.path.islink(h):
+                    before = len(out)
+                    _walk_dir(h)
+                    if len(out) > before:
+                        matched_any = True
+                elif os.path.isfile(h) and not os.path.islink(h):
+                    _maybe_add_file(h)
+                    matched_any = True
+
+        else:  # regex
+            rex = pat.value
+            prefix = _regex_literal_prefix(rex)
+            # Determine a walk root. If we can infer an absolute prefix, use its
+            # directory; otherwise fall back to '/'.
+            if prefix.startswith("/"):
+                root = os.path.dirname(prefix) or "/"
+            else:
+                root = "/"
+            before = len(out)
+            _walk_dir(root, match=pat)
+            matched_any = len(out) > before
+
+        if not matched_any:
+            notes.append(f"Include pattern matched no files: {pat.raw!r}")
+
+    return out, notes

enroll/remote.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+import shlex
 import shutil
 import tarfile
 import tempfile
@@ -97,6 +98,8 @@ def remote_harvest(
     remote_python: str = "python3",
     dangerous: bool = False,
     no_sudo: bool = False,
+    include_paths: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+    exclude_paths: Optional[list[str]] = None,
 ) -> Path:
     """Run enroll harvest on a remote host via SSH and pull the bundle locally.
 
@@ -165,13 +168,25 @@ def remote_harvest(
             sftp.put(str(pyz), rapp)
 
             # Run remote harvest.
-            _cmd = f"{remote_python} {rapp} harvest --out {rbundle}"
+            argv: list[str] = [
+                remote_python,
+                rapp,
+                "harvest",
+                "--out",
+                rbundle,
+            ]
+            if dangerous:
+                argv.append("--dangerous")
+            for p in include_paths or []:
+                argv.extend(["--include-path", str(p)])
+            for p in exclude_paths or []:
+                argv.extend(["--exclude-path", str(p)])
+
+            _cmd = " ".join(shlex.quote(a) for a in argv)
             if not no_sudo:
                 cmd = f"sudo {_cmd}"
             else:
                 cmd = _cmd
-            if dangerous:
-                cmd += " --dangerous"
             rc, out, err = _ssh_run(ssh, cmd)
             if rc != 0:
                 raise RuntimeError(

tests/test_cli.py

@@ -6,9 +6,17 @@ import enroll.cli as cli
 def test_cli_harvest_subcommand_calls_harvest(monkeypatch, capsys, tmp_path):
     called = {}
 
-    def fake_harvest(out: str, dangerous: bool = False):
+    def fake_harvest(
+        out: str,
+        dangerous: bool = False,
+        include_paths=None,
+        exclude_paths=None,
+        **_kwargs,
+    ):
         called["out"] = out
         called["dangerous"] = dangerous
+        called["include_paths"] = include_paths or []
+        called["exclude_paths"] = exclude_paths or []
         return str(tmp_path / "state.json")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "harvest", fake_harvest)
@@ -17,6 +25,8 @@ def test_cli_harvest_subcommand_calls_harvest(monkeypatch, capsys, tmp_path):
     cli.main()
     assert called["out"] == str(tmp_path)
     assert called["dangerous"] is False
+    assert called["include_paths"] == []
+    assert called["exclude_paths"] == []
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
     assert str(tmp_path / "state.json") in captured.out
 
@@ -55,8 +65,16 @@ def test_cli_manifest_subcommand_calls_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
 def test_cli_enroll_subcommand_runs_harvest_then_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     calls = []
 
-    def fake_harvest(bundle_dir: str, dangerous: bool = False):
-        calls.append(("harvest", bundle_dir, dangerous))
+    def fake_harvest(
+        bundle_dir: str,
+        dangerous: bool = False,
+        include_paths=None,
+        exclude_paths=None,
+        **_kwargs,
+    ):
+        calls.append(
+            ("harvest", bundle_dir, dangerous, include_paths or [], exclude_paths or [])
+        )
         return str(tmp_path / "bundle" / "state.json")
 
     def fake_manifest(bundle_dir: str, out_dir: str, **kwargs):
@@ -87,7 +105,7 @@ def test_cli_enroll_subcommand_runs_harvest_then_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
 
     cli.main()
     assert calls == [
-        ("harvest", str(tmp_path / "bundle"), False),
+        ("harvest", str(tmp_path / "bundle"), False, [], []),
         ("manifest", str(tmp_path / "bundle"), str(tmp_path / "ansible"), None, "auto"),
     ]
 
@@ -95,9 +113,17 @@ def test_cli_enroll_subcommand_runs_harvest_then_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
 def test_cli_harvest_dangerous_flag_is_forwarded(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     called = {}
 
-    def fake_harvest(out: str, dangerous: bool = False):
+    def fake_harvest(
+        out: str,
+        dangerous: bool = False,
+        include_paths=None,
+        exclude_paths=None,
+        **_kwargs,
+    ):
         called["out"] = out
         called["dangerous"] = dangerous
+        called["include_paths"] = include_paths or []
+        called["exclude_paths"] = exclude_paths or []
         return str(tmp_path / "state.json")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "harvest", fake_harvest)
@@ -107,6 +133,8 @@ def test_cli_harvest_dangerous_flag_is_forwarded(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
 
     cli.main()
     assert called["dangerous"] is True
+    assert called["include_paths"] == []
+    assert called["exclude_paths"] == []
 
 
 def test_cli_harvest_remote_calls_remote_harvest_and_uses_cache_dir(
@@ -131,6 +159,9 @@ def test_cli_harvest_remote_calls_remote_harvest_and_uses_cache_dir(
         remote_user,
         dangerous,
         no_sudo,
+        include_paths=None,
+        exclude_paths=None,
+        **_kwargs,
     ):
         called.update(
             {
@@ -140,6 +171,8 @@ def test_cli_harvest_remote_calls_remote_harvest_and_uses_cache_dir(
                 "remote_user": remote_user,
                 "dangerous": dangerous,
                 "no_sudo": no_sudo,
+                "include_paths": include_paths or [],
+                "exclude_paths": exclude_paths or [],
             }
         )
         return cache_dir / "state.json"
@@ -169,6 +202,8 @@ def test_cli_harvest_remote_calls_remote_harvest_and_uses_cache_dir(
     assert called["remote_user"] == "alice"
     assert called["dangerous"] is False
     assert called["no_sudo"] is False
+    assert called["include_paths"] == []
+    assert called["exclude_paths"] == []
 
 
 def test_cli_single_shot_remote_without_harvest_prints_state_path(