dotback

dotback is a CLI that backs up dotfiles by copying files/directories defined in a TOML config.

Features

• Single static binary, no runtime environment required.
• Focused scope: backup only.
• Plain copy workflow (no symlink management, no restore workflow).
• Optional post-backup commands (after-backup).

Installation

Download a release binary from releases, or install with Go:

go install github.com/pspiagicw/dotback@latest

Install directly from GitHub releases (fresh system, no clone/build required):

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pspiagicw/dotback/main/install.sh | bash

The installer places dotback in /usr/local/bin when writable, otherwise ~/.local/bin. You can also pin a release tag:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pspiagicw/dotback/main/install.sh | VERSION=v0.1.0 bash

If you use gox:

gox install github.com/pspiagicw/dotback@latest

Configuration

Default config path:

• $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dotback/backup.toml (typically ~/.config/dotback/backup.toml)

You can print a starter config:

dotback --example-config

You can inspect loaded config values:

dotback config

Config schema

• storeDir (required): destination root for backups. Created if missing.
• [backup.<name>] (required): each rule must include:
• location (required): file or directory to copy.
• after-backup (optional): commands to run after backup completes.
• ignore (optional): glob patterns used to skip paths during copy.

Example:

storeDir = "~/.local/state/backup"

after-backup = [
  "tar -czf ~/.local/state/backup.tgz ~/.local/state/backup"
]

ignore = [
  "*/node_modules/*",
  "*/.cache/*"
]

[backup.nvim]
location = "~/.config/nvim"

[backup.gitconfig]
location = "~/.gitconfig"

More examples: backup.example.toml.

Usage

Global flags:

• --config: alternate config file path.
• --example-config: print an example config and exit.

Backup command

Back up all configured rules:

dotback backup

Back up selected rules:

dotback backup nvim gitconfig

Back up all except selected rules:

dotback backup --ignore nvim neomutt

Show planned operations without copying:

dotback backup --dry-run

Use an alternate config:

dotback --config /absolute/path/to/backup.toml backup

Run without interactive prompts (CI/cron):

dotback backup --non-interactive --no-after-backup

List configured backup rule names:

dotback list

Notes:

• dotback backup asks for confirmation before starting.
• If after-backup is configured, dotback asks before running those commands.
• .git directories are always skipped during directory copy.
• .gitignore files are skipped during copy.

Limitations

• Not incremental/versioned backup.
• Not scheduling/automation (use cron/systemd).
• Not sync/replication across machines (use rsync/syncthing/etc.).
• Not a restore/installer tool.
• Rule targets with the same basename can overwrite each other in storeDir because destination uses the source basename.

Safety notes

• If you include sensitive paths (for example ~/.ssh, ~/.gnupg, password stores), secure storeDir with strict permissions.
• If you copy backups to remote storage in after-backup, ensure transport and destination are encrypted/protected.

Contribution

Contributions are welcome on GitHub.