How to rsync my node.js project to my intel edison board, through ssh? I would love to get rid of Intel's heavy XDK software, and be able to quickly push the updates of my node.js code into my Intel Edison (arduino compatible) board.

I tried this: rsync -avz ./ root@192.168.100.177:/node_app_slot/

But rsync is not installed on the board.

How would you do this?
rsync works by talking to the rsync executable running on the remote target; without said executable you will need to drop to either scp or a tar pipe.