RSync Backup Script

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:45:51 +0530

This is a simple, customizable shell script designed to help users back up specific parts of their home directory to an external drive. It leverages the power of the rsync command for efficient file synchronization.

GitHub Repository: funinkina/rsync-backup-script

Since it is just a script, you can just copy from here

#!/bin/bash

# List the FOLDER NAMES within your home directory you want to back up.
# Do NOT include the full path, just the name relative to $HOME.
# Example: SOURCE_DIRS=("Documents" "Pictures" "Projects" ".config/some_app")
SOURCE_DIRS=(
 "Academics"
 "assets"
 "Codes"
 "Documents"
 "dotfiles"
 "Pictures"
 "Hackathons"
 "Notes"
 "Projects"
 ".mozilla"
 ".ssh"
 # Add more directories here...
 # ".config" # Be careful with large hidden dirs, they might contain caches too
 # ".local/share/some_app" # Example of nested path
)

# --- !!! IMPORTANT: External Disk Path !!! ---
# Example: DEST_BASE_DIR="/media/your_username/MyExternalUSB/Backups"
# Ensure this directory exists and you have write permissions.
DEST_BASE_DIR="/mnt" # <<< --- CHANGE THIS ---

# --- !!! IMPORTANT: Destination Subfolder Name !!! ---
# Define the name of the FOLDER *INSIDE* DEST_BASE_DIR where this specific backup will go.
# Leave empty to use the default (current date and time).
# Example 1 (Fixed Name): DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME="MyHomeBackup"
# Example 2 (Date Based): DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME="backup_$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
# Default (Date & Time):
_DEFAULT_SUBFOLDER_NAME="backup_$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S)"
DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME="archlinux_backup" # <<< --- SET YOUR DESIRED FOLDER NAME HERE, OR LEAVE EMPTY FOR DEFAULT

# List of directory NAMES to exclude. These will be excluded wherever they appear.
EXCLUDE_DIRS=(
 "node_modules"
 "venv"
 ".venv"
 "env"
 "__pycache__"
 "Cache"
 "cache"
 ".cache"
 "build"
 "dist"
 ".gradle"
 "target"
 ".DS_Store"
 "Thumbs.db"
 ".Trash"
 "*-cache"
 ".npm"
 ".yarn"
)

if [[ -z "$DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME" ]]; then
 DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME="$_DEFAULT_SUBFOLDER_NAME"
 echo "INFO: Using default destination subfolder name: $DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME"
fi

FULL_DEST_PATH="$DEST_BASE_DIR/$DEST_SUBFOLDER_NAME"

if [[ "$DEST_BASE_DIR" == "/path/to/your/external/disk/backup_area" ]] || [[ -z "$DEST_BASE_DIR" ]]; then
 echo "ERROR: Please configure the 'DEST_BASE_DIR' variable in this script."
 exit 1
fi

if [ ! -d "$DEST_BASE_DIR" ]; then
 echo "ERROR: Base destination directory '$DEST_BASE_DIR' not found."
 echo "Please ensure the external disk is mounted and the path is correct."
 exit 1
fi

if [ ! -w "$DEST_BASE_DIR" ]; then
 echo "ERROR: Base destination directory '$DEST_BASE_DIR' is not writable."
 echo "Please check permissions."
 exit 1
fi

RSYNC_EXCLUDES=()
for dir in "${EXCLUDE_DIRS[@]}"; do
 RSYNC_EXCLUDES+=(--exclude="$dir")
done

RSYNC_OPTS=(-av --progress --delete "${RSYNC_EXCLUDES[@]}")
# RSYNC_OPTS=(-av --progress "${RSYNC_EXCLUDES[@]}") # Default: Safer without --delete

echo "Attempting to create destination folder: $FULL_DEST_PATH"
mkdir -p "$FULL_DEST_PATH"
if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
 echo "ERROR: Failed to create destination folder '$FULL_DEST_PATH'."
 echo "Please check permissions and path validity."
 exit 1
fi
echo "Destination folder ready."

echo "==========================================="
echo "Starting Backup"
echo "Source Base: $HOME"
echo "Destination: $FULL_DEST_PATH"
echo "Excluded Directories: ${EXCLUDE_DIRS[*]}"
echo "==========================================="
echo

errors=0
processed_count=0

DEST_PARENT_FOR_RSYNC="$FULL_DEST_PATH/"

for src_dir in "${SOURCE_DIRS[@]}"; do
 SOURCE_PATH="$HOME/$src_dir"

 echo "--- Processing: '$src_dir' ---"

 if [ ! -e "$SOURCE_PATH" ]; then
 echo "WARNING: Source '$SOURCE_PATH' does not exist. Skipping."
 echo "--------------------------------------"
 continue
 fi

 echo "Running: rsync ${RSYNC_OPTS[*]} \"$SOURCE_PATH\" \"$DEST_PARENT_FOR_RSYNC\""
 rsync "${RSYNC_OPTS[@]}" "$SOURCE_PATH" "$DEST_PARENT_FOR_RSYNC"

 rsync_exit_status=$?
 if [ $rsync_exit_status -ne 0 ]; then
 echo "ERROR: rsync failed for '$SOURCE_PATH' with exit code $rsync_exit_status."
 errors=$((errors + 1))
 else
 echo "Successfully processed '$src_dir'."
 processed_count=$((processed_count + 1))
 fi
 echo "--------------------------------------"
 echo

done

echo "==========================================="
echo "Backup Finished"
if [ $errors -gt 0 ]; then
 echo "WARNING: Encountered $errors errors during backup."
 echo "Processed $processed_count directories successfully before errors or completion."
 echo "Backup located at: $FULL_DEST_PATH"
 exit 1 
else
 echo "All specified source directories ($processed_count) processed successfully."
 echo "Backup complete in: $FULL_DEST_PATH"
 exit 0 
fi
echo "==========================================="

How it is built

The project is implemented as a standard shell script. It utilizes the command-line utility rsync as its core engine for performing the backup operations, known for its efficiency in handling file transfers and synchronizations. The script is designed to be highly customizable by directly editing its contents, facilitated by being “well commented” to guide users in modifying parameters like source folders, excluded paths, and the backup destination.

Manjaro Minimal Bootsplash

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 21:01:12 +0530

Manjaro Minimal Bootsplash is a custom theme for Plymouth, the graphical boot splash system used in many Linux distributions, specifically tailored for Manjaro Linux. It aims to provide a cleaner, more minimal look during the system boot process.

GitHub Repository: funinkina/manjaro-minimal-bootsplash

How it is built

This project is essentially a Plymouth theme package. It includes shell scripts (bootsplash-minimal.sh, bootsplash-packer) used to generate necessary files (like an STL model, which is part of the bootsplash mechanism) and assist in packaging. The theme itself defines how visual elements like the logo and spinner are displayed during boot. It’s designed to be built and installed as an Arch Linux package using makepkg, integrating into Manjaro’s package management system. The visual assets, particularly the spinner, were based on graphics from Preloaders.net and further modified. Installation involves modifying system configuration files like /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and /etc/default/grub to activate the theme.

Shell Scripting on funinkina's corner

RSync Backup Script

GitHub Repository: funinkina/rsync-backup-script

How it is built

Manjaro Minimal Bootsplash

GitHub Repository: funinkina/manjaro-minimal-bootsplash

How it is built