Feature: differential/incremental backups #19

New Issue

2026-06-02T20:29:32Z

jmiller commented

2026-06-02 20:29:32 +00:00

Only back up files changed since the last backup to reduce size and time.

Description

For large sites, full backups can take a long time and use significant storage. Differential backups only include files modified since the last full backup.

Requirements

Track file modification times from last backup
New backup_type: "differential"
Differential backup references a base full backup
Restore must apply: base full + differential
Database is always fully dumped (no incremental DB)

Implementation Notes

This is complex — store file manifest (path + mtime + size) from each full backup, then compare on next run. Restore needs to layer diffs on top of base.

Only back up files changed since the last backup to reduce size and time. ## Description For large sites, full backups can take a long time and use significant storage. Differential backups only include files modified since the last full backup. ## Requirements - [ ] Track file modification times from last backup - [ ] New backup_type: "differential" - [ ] Differential backup references a base full backup - [ ] Restore must apply: base full + differential - [ ] Database is always fully dumped (no incremental DB) ## Implementation Notes This is complex — store file manifest (path + mtime + size) from each full backup, then compare on next run. Restore needs to layer diffs on top of base.

jmiller added the type: feature priority: low component: engine status: blocked labels 2026-06-02 20:29:32 +00:00

jmiller commented

2026-06-02 20:29:32 +00:00

Testing Plan

TC-F6.1: Differential creation

Run full backup
Modify 3 files, add 1 new file
Run differential backup
Verify diff archive only contains 4 files + database.sql
Verify diff archive size << full backup size

TC-F6.2: Differential restore

Restore from full backup
Apply differential on top
Verify all changes from diff are present

TC-F6.3: Multiple differentials

Full backup > modify files > diff 1 > modify more files > diff 2
Restore: full + diff 2
Verify latest state restored correctly

TC-F6.4: No changes

Run full backup
Run differential immediately (no changes)
Verify diff archive contains only database.sql

## Testing Plan **TC-F6.1: Differential creation** 1. Run full backup 2. Modify 3 files, add 1 new file 3. Run differential backup 4. Verify diff archive only contains 4 files + database.sql 5. Verify diff archive size << full backup size **TC-F6.2: Differential restore** 1. Restore from full backup 2. Apply differential on top 3. Verify all changes from diff are present **TC-F6.3: Multiple differentials** 1. Full backup > modify files > diff 1 > modify more files > diff 2 2. Restore: full + diff 2 3. Verify latest state restored correctly **TC-F6.4: No changes** 1. Run full backup 2. Run differential immediately (no changes) 3. Verify diff archive contains only database.sql

jmiller referenced this issue from a commit

2026-06-02 23:56:24 +00:00

feat: dashboard widget (#18), differential backups (#19), JPA import (#20)

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Reference: MokoConsulting/MokoJoomBackup#19