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What GNU + Linux software could enable deep integration of backup, sync, and transfer; just as convenient and beginner-friendly (edit: and efficient) as what Apple provides? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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For example, iOS has these features:

  • iCloud backup restore or peer-to-peer transfer, very early in the device setup process
  • Two ways for things to be stored in iCloud, each with a corresponding list of per-app (not per-folder) toggle switches in iCloud Settings
    • "Saved to iCloud" normal syncing
      • Requires apps to use the right APIs and to handle conflicting changes
      • Allows same data to be read and modified by multiple devices
    • iCloud backup
      • Available for all apps
      • Separate backup per device
      • Only downloaded when setting up a new device
      • In app sandboxes, only excludes tmp (Flatpak equivalent is somewhere in /run) and Library/Caches (equivalent to cache directory in Flatpak sandbox) by default
      • Allows apps to set isExcludedFromBackup attribute for specific files (useful for things that are easy to recreate via download but are expected by the user to not be automatically deleted)
      • Includes system configuration such as home screen layout
      • Backs up a list of installed apps without backing up their executables and assets
  • Synced list of previously installed apps, not separate per-device
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[–] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

I've had this idea a few times over the years, but I always get stuck at figuring out: what is it actually I want to happen? If I remove a local file, should it be removed from the backup too? If I edit a file, should the newer version replace the old in the backup, or be saved separately, or just the delta between the files? I could never decide what I wanted.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Not that I have it all figured out, but it sounds like it would help to decouple backup from sync. I have syncthing keep a two-way sync, including deletes, but have syncthing's trash as a "backup" (items deleted after n-days) on each device in case I accidentally delete something. Then I have a nightly, encrypted backups with versions stored offsite (eg borg) which is only meant to be used if there's major failure like a flood or fire. HDD failure is covered by RAID10 NAS. Somewhere in there I have or need a data integrity/hash check, but at least it's a start.

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