[Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

DoXer · 2017-10-27 06:50:14

Hi,
just creating my backup-strategy with borg backup.

Is it ok to exclude the whole ~/.cache directory, or is there important data included?

Regards
Michael

Last edited by DoXer (2017-10-29 05:40:05)

hcjl · 2017-10-27 06:56:44

As the name already indicates it contains just cached data. Many backup tools already exclude things like cache, trash, etc. in their default configs.

DoXer · 2017-10-27 10:08:28

Perfect,
borg has a parameter for this and I followed the instructions:

--exclude-caches      exclude directories that contain a CACHEDIR.TAG file (http://www.brynosaurus.com/cachedir/spec.html)

hcjl · 2017-10-27 11:20:37

Borg really looks promising. I currently only use rsync or rsync based tools (rsnapshot) for backup. Maybe I should give borg I try.

drcouzelis · 2017-10-27 12:46:02

I'm going to throw out my general rule (in hopes that someone smarter will correct me if I'm wrong!)...

On any computer device (desktop, phone...), if a file or folder has the word "cache" in it, then it can be safely erased at any time.

progandy · 2017-10-27 18:28:32

drcouzelis wrote:

I'm going to throw out my general rule (in hopes that someone smarter will correct me if I'm wrong!)...
On any computer device (desktop, phone...), if a file or folder has the word "cache" in it, then it can be safely erased at any time.

That works as long as you don't have badly written software that stores important data in a cache directory
Also take care if it is a cache for online data you want to preserve for offline reading. Don't delete it when you have no internet access.

ugjka · 2017-10-27 19:15:49

sometimes you can fix some issues by just deleting all caches

cfr · 2017-10-28 03:23:37

drcouzelis wrote:

I'm going to throw out my general rule (in hopes that someone smarter will correct me if I'm wrong!)...
On any computer device (desktop, phone...), if a file or folder has the word "cache" in it, then it can be safely erased at any time.

rmr /usr/bin/*cache*

?

waitnsea · 2017-10-28 03:37:56

hcjl wrote:

Borg really looks promising. I currently only use rsync or rsync based tools (rsnapshot) for backup. Maybe I should give borg I try.

Hi,
Have a look on my contribution on (french) Wiki
Thanks for any correction/addition or Official Wiki translation

graysky · 2017-10-28 10:15:50

I mount ~/.cache to tmpfs so it never makes writes to my SSD nor does it retain contents between boots.
From /etc/fstab

tmpfs /home/facade/.cache tmpfs relatime,nodev,nosuid,size=180M 0 0

Alad · 2017-10-28 10:18:37

Are we still arguing about SSD writes in 2017? ~/.cache can contain files of arbitrary size. If that size=180m get exceeded, in the best case programs will break because they can no longer write to ~/.cache.

Last edited by Alad (2017-10-28 10:27:08)

ugjka · 2017-10-28 10:34:59

Mythbusters need to be revived to take on SSD myths

graysky · 2017-10-28 11:14:22

Alad wrote:

Are we still arguing about SSD writes in 2017?

...You seem to be the only one wanting to start an argument.

Carefully re-read my post. I stated two facts about an /etc/fstab setting and shared it in the post, period.
1) No writes to filesystem.
2) Automatically erased on a reboot.

Alad wrote:

~/.cache can contain files of arbitrary size. If that size=180m get exceeded, in the best case programs will break because they can no longer write to ~/.cache.

You are correct. My use cases never gave issues exceeding 180m. Others may wish to monitor the dir size and modify the setting accordingly.

DoXer · 2017-10-28 13:09:46

BTW: We are getting more and more off topic.

Last edited by DoXer (2017-10-28 13:09:59)

2ManyDogs · 2017-10-28 13:24:17

DoXer wrote:

BTW: We are getting more and more off topic.

You could help by marking your thread [SOLVED] (I think you have your answer).

drcouzelis · 2017-10-30 13:01:56

cfr wrote:

drcouzelis wrote:
I'm going to throw out my general rule (in hopes that someone smarter will correct me if I'm wrong!)...
On any computer device (desktop, phone...), if a file or folder has the word "cache" in it, then it can be safely erased at any time.
rmr /usr/bin/*cache*
?

All right, all right, you win.

For anyone reading this, do not use the "rm" command above. You might lose something you want, like "/usr/bin/gtk-update-icon-cache".

cfr · 2017-10-31 00:36:50

drcouzelis wrote:

cfr wrote:
drcouzelis wrote:
I'm going to throw out my general rule (in hopes that someone smarter will correct me if I'm wrong!)...
On any computer device (desktop, phone...), if a file or folder has the word "cache" in it, then it can be safely erased at any time.
rmr /usr/bin/*cache*
?
All right, all right, you win.
For anyone reading this, do not use the "rm" command above. You might lose something you want, like "/usr/bin/gtk-update-icon-cache".

Note my deliberate typo.

Last edited by cfr (2017-10-31 00:37:04)

Arch Linux

#1 2017-10-27 06:50:14

[Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#2 2017-10-27 06:56:44

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#3 2017-10-27 10:08:28

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#4 2017-10-27 11:20:37

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#5 2017-10-27 12:46:02

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#6 2017-10-27 18:28:32

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#7 2017-10-27 19:15:49

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#8 2017-10-28 03:23:37

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#9 2017-10-28 03:37:56

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#10 2017-10-28 10:15:50

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#11 2017-10-28 10:18:37

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#12 2017-10-28 10:34:59

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#13 2017-10-28 11:14:22

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#14 2017-10-28 13:09:46

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#15 2017-10-28 13:24:17

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#16 2017-10-30 13:01:56

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

#17 2017-10-31 00:36:50

Re: [Solved] ~/.cache needs backup?

Board footer