Simple Backup Utility

Simple Backup Utility is a lightweight C++ console application designed to perform file and directory backups based on a list specified in list.txt.
The program automatically handles creating a backup directory and safely copying all listed files and folders.

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Features

• Load list of files and directories to back up from list.txt
• Automatic verification and creation (or reset) of the backup destination
• Recursive directory copying with full structure preservation
• Simple and minimal user interaction
• Clear runtime messages and basic error handling

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Usage

1. Prepare the list.txt file
   Each line must contain an absolute or relative path to a file or folder you want to back up. Example:

   /home/user/Documents/report.docx
   /home/user/Pictures/vacation
   /home/user/.bashrc
   

2. Build the project
   Compile the program using a C++17 (or newer) compliant compiler:

   g++ backup.cpp -o backup -std=c++17

3. Run the utility

   ./backup

   During execution:

   • The program loads the paths from list.txt.
   • Asks for the destination path for the backup.
   • Prompts you if the destination already exists (overwrite or exit).
   • Begins the backup process, reporting progress for each file or directory.

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Requirements

• C++17-compatible compiler (required for <filesystem>)
• Linux, Windows, or any system supporting C++17 standard libraries

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Error Handling

• If list.txt cannot be opened, the program exits with an error.
• If a file or directory from list.txt is missing, a warning is printed and the backup continues.
• Unexpected behavior (such as inaccessible files) is handled gracefully with runtime messages.

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Roadmap / TODO

This utility is currently under active development. Future improvements and fixes are planned:

• Fix copying root-owned files: Detect and warn when trying to copy files that require elevated permissions.
• Fix crash on missing files: Properly skip and report missing files without throwing exceptions.
• Improve output formatting: Add clearer, cleaner status messages during backup.
• Add logging: Write the entire backup process (successes, failures) into a log.txt file.
• Command-line arguments: Allow specifying the list file and backup destination via command-line parameters.
• Parallel copying: Optimize performance by adding multithreaded copying for large sets of files.
• Error codes: Exit with appropriate status codes for easy scripting and automation.
• Backup verification: Add optional checksum validation after copying.
• Configuration file support: Allow configuring default settings via a .conf file.
• Progress bar: Show a dynamic progress bar while copying.
• Refactor codebase: Modularize and document code thoroughly for maintainability.
• Cross-platform testing: Ensure full functionality on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

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Important Notes

• Always run the program with appropriate permissions for the files you want to back up.
• The backup destination path must be accessible and writable by the user.
• Make sure paths in list.txt are correct to avoid unnecessary errors.

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License

This project is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0). See the LICENSE file for more details.