IDEA: Configurable Backup Utility

[Josh]

OK, the idea behind this is quite simple. Many applications lack a proper backup facility for their application-specific settings. This application will take a configuration file, possibly developed by the community, and use it to backup the application's settings. For example, one could make a vlc.xml file and this application will be able to load this, and produce a backup of the configuration settings based on the paths stored in the xml file. The utility will have an interface that will allow for a single profile to be loaded and run, or multiple at once, and have the results stored in a zip file. Ideally, the user can load multiple files into the application before a backup is performed.

The community would be the driving force behind such an application as it would allow each user to develop an xml file for any application that does not have a proper backup facility.

What do you think?

[mouser]

Personally I think this is a great idea, almost as if I came up with it myself.

This tool could be used to backup not just installed applications but portable applications.

With the xml config files, people could write and share config files for different programs which would specify which files need to be backed up from which directories.  I suggest that each config file result in its own output backup zip, with the created backup files saved with dated filenames, so for example "FindAndRunRobot_121612.zip".

One can imagine options for how many older backups to save, etc.

Once could imagine that the main UI might have a list of all the config files known, and then let use check and uncheck the config profiles to backup, etc.

[mouser]

This could make a really good NANY 2013 application.

[tomos]

I love the idea.
I remember Backup4all had something similar using plugins - IIRC apps could be added, yes:
http://www.backup4al...ckup-plugin-161.html

I think this is a great idea, almost as if I came up with it myself.

-mouser (December 16, 2012, 08:00 PM)

mouser usually only thinks his own ideas are truly great

[mouser]

A config file could also specify registry paths, etc.

Needless to say, one would want to be able to RESTORE settings from a backup zip too.

Because of the portability of this it would also make a truly excellent way to migrate settings between machines.

[mouser]

Another nice idea is that apps could come with their own backup config files that this tool could "discover".

For that reason i suggest you use a file extension that is unique, like ".cubaxml".