macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install backupninjalocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install backupninja with Homebrew, apt, dnf, zypper
Backup automation tool. Version 1.2.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install backupninjaDebian stable package indexes · backupninja · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install backupninjaFedora Rawhide package metadata · backupninja · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install backupninjaopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · backupninja · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Backup automation tool
Project links
Commands and aliases
- backupninja
- ninjahelper
history
Project history and usage
backupninja is a long-running Unix backup coordinator that turns system backups into ordered, scheduled configuration files under /etc/backup.d. Its value is orchestration: it wraps tools such as rdiff-backup, duplicity, borg, restic, database dumpers, and custom scripts behind one simple configuration style.
Project history
The official changelog records an initial release on 2004-10-08. By late 2004 it had moved to ini-style configuration, root-run handler scripts, a /usr/share/backupninja library directory, scheduled actions, system-report handlers, test mode, and /etc/backup.d permissions.
The 2005 releases added much of the shape administrators still recognize: hourly scheduling, numeric ordering fixes, duplicity and maildir handlers, subversion hotbackup, LDAP support, vserver support, mysql configuration improvements, and safer duplicity options.
Later releases modernized the handler ecosystem rather than replacing the core idea. The 2018 1.1.0 release added initial borgbackup support; the 2021 1.2.0 release introduced restic support, tests, a --version flag, and a Keep a Changelog project format; the 2023 1.2.2 release added Prometheus metrics for backup status.
Adoption history
backupninja has classic distribution-style adoption. The supplied package-manager facts list Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE packages, while the changelog references Debian bug numbers across many releases. Its audience is administrators who prefer auditable files and cron-like scheduling over a single monolithic backup product.
How it is used
Users configure global behavior in /etc/backupninja.conf and drop per-action files into /etc/backup.d. backupninja processes suffix-based handlers in alphabetical order, supports scheduled when clauses, can test runs without performing backups, and provides ninjahelper as a curses-based wizard for creating action configuration files.
Why package nerds care
backupninja is package-nerd history in miniature: a small Debian-era shell tool that survived by being boring, extensible, and distribution-friendly. It is useful precisely because it delegates storage mechanics to packaged backup programs while standardizing scheduling, reporting, handler discovery, and config layout.
Timeline
- 2004: Initial release recorded in the official changelog.
- 2004: 0.3 rewrote scripts in bash and switched to ini-style configuration.
- 2005: 0.4.4 added duplicity, maildir, subversion hotbackup, and --run support.
- 2005: 0.6 added LDAP and vserver support plus expanded duplicity options.
- 2018: 1.1.0 added initial borgbackup support.
- 2021: 1.2.0 introduced restic support, tests, --version, and Keep a Changelog format.
- 2023: 1.2.2 added Prometheus metrics for backup status.
Related projects
- The README lists rdiff-backup, duplicity, borgbackup, restic, mysqlhotcopy, mysqldump, PostgreSQL backup handling, Subversion backup support, and arbitrary shell scripts as backup action families. Its design is also adjacent to cron, sysvinit-style ordering, and distribution packaging.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:backup
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/backupninja.conf/etc/backup.d/
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
backupninja | cli | global executable | |
ninjahelper | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version1.2.2
manager updated2026-06-22
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninjanone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:backupninja |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.2.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/backupninja |
| Homepage | https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja |
| Repository | https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja |
| Upstream docs | https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja/-/blob/master/INSTALL.md |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja/-/archive/backupninja_upstream/1.2.2/backupninja-backupninja_upstream-1.2.2.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22T14:02:51-07:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | bash, dialog |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | backupninja |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
backupninja 1.2.2-1
lightweight, extensible meta-backup system
https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja
sudo apt install backupninja- Section: admin
- Architecture: all
- 4 dependencies
- 18 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Backupninja
Ubuntu apt95%
backupninja 1.2.2-1
lightweight, extensible meta-backup system
https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja
sudo apt install backupninja- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: all
- 4 dependencies
- 18 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Backupninja
dnf95%
backupninja 1.2.2-10.fc44
Lightweight, extensible backup system
https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja
sudo dnf install backupninja- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: backupninja
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Backupninja
zypper95%
backupninja 1.2.2-3.4
Lightweight, extensible meta-backup system
https://0xacab.org/liberate/backupninja
sudo zypper install backupninja- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Productivity/Archiving/Backup
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: backupninja
- 8 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Backupninja
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment