How to perform daily backups?

Question

While developing an iPhone project, I create new folders on each day and as follows

* November 2009
      o 01-DEC-2009
            + MyProject
      o 02-DEC-2009
            + MyProject
* December 2009

I make backups of my project daily, I know this isn't a proper way of making backups. I want to know what is the proper solution for this?

I am on Mac OS X & it is connected to a Windows server. Is it possible to make backups on Windows svn server? Is there an alternate option available within Mac OSX?

I cannot attach anything to the PC via USB, so, Time Machine isn't preferable for this specific requirements.

Answer 1

If you are developing software, rather than manual backups and snapshots, you should start using source control software, like Subversion (which you mention but clearly have no idea how it works) or git (slightly more difficult to learn but gives you more power in the long run). Since you have a svn server running on windows I would try learning using it first.

Having said that, if you really have to use manual backups, first note that Xcode provides a snapshot feature, which may be enough for you. Still, if you don't trust Xcode, one solution would be to use something similar in spirit to time machine, where you have a full copy of any directory plus differential backups for a specific amount of time. rdiff-backup would fit this very well (I've used it to back windows network shares).

rdiff-backup can be obtained either as source code or you can also install it prepackaged binaries through systems like Mac ports.

Answer 2

Time Machine will make daily backups to a local external hard drive, or network-attached Time Capsule. This is the absolute easiest solution if you aren't concerned about the backups being off-site.

Answer 3

If you're set on avoiding time machine, and really want to use an ad-hoc script setup, you may want to check out rdiff-backup. I use a combination of rdiff-backup (fired off through backupninja) and jungledisk to ensure that I have everything backed up.

This solution accomplishes the following:

1. Automatic
2. Versions everything, no worry about data loss.
3. Minimal file duplication -- optimal disk space use (but no compression).
4. Offsite backup.

If you want to go a bit more complicated and avoid the need to use a service like JungleDisk and just use a remote server, you may want to look at Duplicity, which will encrypt the backups on the remote server too.

Answer 4

If you do not fear scripting, you could try tarsnap (needs to be built from source for OSX). You can either cron your backups, or push a "button" (script) when you decide a backup is needed. I wrote a bit about it at: https://caffeinatedcode.com/posts/online-backups-for-the-truly-paranoid/ "Online Backups for the Truly Paranoid"

Tarsnap is secure, easy to use, uses Amazon S3 (geo-replicated across the country), and inexpensive (but not free).

You do need to clarify for yourself the difference between revision control and backup. They are not necessarily the same, although many use their offsite versioning mechanism as their main backup tool. Your requirements might be satisfied simply by using svn on a hosting provider like Dreamhost.