Question

I writing some little blog series about backuping data. And first part is about what is important to backup. Mainly focused on programmers(developers).

My list - for now

Yes
Photos
Work - source codes
Documents - invoices, contracts, etc.
Passwords
Configuration Files - IDE, Software, etc.

Maybe
Music

No
Movies
Software

Answer 1

Browser bookmarks, if they aren't already stored online (XMarks etc).

I suppose you could argue that this is config data, but I personally like to treat it seperately.

Answer 2

Another one is software licence keys.

Answer 3

If you want to keep it, make sure it's backed up. The distinction is not by category, but by desirability and replaceability.

There's temporary files that you don't care about. Don't back those up. The browser cache is an example.

There's stuff you've already got copies of. For example, software usually comes on optical media or as downloads. As long as you've got the media, or ability to download, you can restore from there. You might want to keep a list of what you've downloaded so you can go through the list and get everything.

Then there's stuff that you've done yourself, or is unique to you, so there will be no external backups that you don't create. This is also usually of considerable personal or financial importance. Back this stuff up.

Answer 4

My experience is that saving old versions can be a good thing too. Take Macromedia Freehand 10 for example. Marvelous software, but very hard to find on the net today. So if you have software gems you like, store them too.

Answer 5

I would suggest a list of software that is currently installed so when you get a crash you dont have to spend as much time brain storming what to install and can get back to programming.

Answer 6

Assuming this is a windows machines I try just backup everything in the c:\users\username or c:\Documents and Settings\username except for temp or cache files. This has gotten a bit easier in win-7 since every folder, not including the hidden AppData folder, in the profile directory is data I probably want to back up.

I try and avoid backing up AppData or Application Data and Local Settings, since they contain caches and temporary files. But they do hold application specific profiles, like those associated with Firefox, Outlook, Thunderbird, Pidgin, etc. I tend to just pick them out of the AppData folder or, Application Data and Local Settings.

For the applications themselves, I have an textfile with all the CD keys in My Documents for applications I own. I try to have the disks in a CD book, or at least an .iso backed up somewhere. It is a pain to recover them from a backup and I fine that a clean re-install of software tends to cause less headaches down the line.

For other OS's the process is pretty much the same, the names just change. Backup all:

• all user files
• your application's user configuration profiles
• anything you need to re-install the software

Beyond that, it is probably cruft, or carrying cruft, and you are better off rebuilding it.