A robust, automated Git backup system designed specifically for Windows with Git Bash integration.

🚀 Quick Installation

1. Download all files to a folder (e.g., C:\GitBackup\)
2. Run install.bat as Administrator (right-click → "Run as administrator")
3. Follow the installer prompts
4. Done! Your backup system is ready to use.

📋 Prerequisites

The installer will check and guide you through installing:

• Python 3.7+ (Download here)
  • ⚠️ Important: Check "Add Python to PATH" during installation
• Git for Windows (Download here)
  • ⚠️ Important: Include Git Bash during installation

🎯 Quick Start

After installation, you have several ways to use the system:

Method 1: Double-Click Batch Files

• start_backup.bat - Start monitoring your projects
• config_gui.bat - Open configuration interface
• check_status.bat - View repository status
• backup_now.bat - Force backup all projects immediately

Method 2: Command Line

# Start monitoring (5-minute intervals)
python git_backup.py start

# Start with custom interval (3 minutes)
python git_backup.py start 180

# Check all repositories
python git_backup.py status

# Add remote repository
python git_backup.py remote my_project https://github.com/user/repo.git

# Force backup all projects
python git_backup.py backup-all

Method 3: GUI Configuration

python service_manager.py gui

📁 How It Works

1. Create project folders in Desktop/projects/

   Desktop/
   └── projects/
       ├── my_web_app/      ← Becomes Git repo
       ├── python_scripts/  ← Becomes Git repo
       └── data_analysis/   ← Becomes Git repo
   

2. Start monitoring - the system watches for file changes

3. Automatic backups - commits changes every 5 minutes (configurable)

4. Remote sync - pushes to GitHub/GitLab if configured

🛠️ Advanced Configuration

GUI Configuration

Run config_gui.bat for a user-friendly interface to:

• Set backup intervals
• Configure excluded file types
• Manage remote repositories
• Add to Windows startup
• Create desktop shortcuts

Manual Configuration

Edit Desktop/.git_backup_config.json:

{
  "backup_interval": 300,
  "auto_push": true,
  "max_file_size_mb": 100,
  "excluded_extensions": [".exe", ".dll", ".bin", ".iso"],
  "projects_path": "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Desktop\\projects"
}

Git Bash Integration

• Uses Git Bash for all Git operations
• Proper Windows path conversion
• Handles Windows line endings (CRLF)

System Integration

• Windows startup integration
• Desktop shortcuts creation
• System tray notifications (future feature)
• Windows Service installation (advanced)

🎛️ Control Options

Start/Stop Monitoring

# Start (runs until Ctrl+C)
python git_backup.py start

# GUI control
python service_manager.py gui

Startup Integration

The installer can add Git Backup to Windows startup, so it starts automatically when your computer boots.

Process Management

The system runs efficiently in the background:

• Low CPU usage (only active during file changes)
• Minimal memory footprint
• Graceful shutdown on system restart

🔍 Monitoring & Logging

Check Repository Status

python git_backup.py status

GUI Status Monitor

The configuration GUI provides real-time status:

• Repository health
• Last backup times
• Error logs
• Process control

Log Files

Logs are written to the console and can be redirected:

python git_backup.py start > backup.log 2>&1

Robust File Handling

• Locked files: Waits for availability
• Large files: Size limits (configurable)
• Binary files: Automatically ignored
• Temporary files: Excluded by pattern
• Network drives: Handled with timeouts

Git Operation Safety

• Repository corruption: Auto-repair attempts
• Network failures: Graceful retry logic
• Merge conflicts: Prevention through auto-commits
• Remote authentication: SSH key support

Windows-Specific Issues

• Long paths: Uses Windows long path APIs
• Special characters: Unicode filename support
• Permissions: Handles UAC restrictions
• Multiple users: Per-user configuration

📊 Performance Optimization

Efficient Monitoring

• Uses Windows file system events
• Batches changes to reduce Git operations
• Ignores system/temporary files automatically

Resource Management

• Thread-safe operations
• Configurable intervals to balance responsiveness vs. performance
• Memory-efficient file watching

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Git Bash not found"

Solution: Reinstall Git for Windows, ensure Git Bash is selected

"Permission denied"

Solution: Run as Administrator or check file permissions

"Python not found"

Solution: Reinstall Python, check "Add to PATH" option

Files not being backed up

1. Check if files are in ignored patterns
2. Verify repository initialization
3. Check file locks/permissions

Debug Mode

python git_backup.py start --debug

Reset Everything

1. Delete Desktop/.git_backup_config.json
2. Delete .git folders in project directories
3. Run installer again

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