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borgbase/vykar

A fast, encrypted, deduplicated backup tool in Rust, configured through a YAML file, with S3, SFTP and REST storage support.

Open-source alternative to:Time MachineAcronis True Image

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Last commit
2 days ago

What is it?

Vykar is a command-line backup tool written in Rust. It stores snapshots in its own on-disk repository format, encrypting data with AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305 and deriving keys with Argon2id. Duplicate content is removed using FastCDC content-defined chunking, and data can be compressed with LZ4 or Zstandard.

Backups are described in a YAML config file that can define multiple repositories, hooks, and command dumps for database backups. Repositories can live on the local filesystem, S3-compatible storage, SFTP servers, or a dedicated REST server that supports append-only enforcement and quotas. A built-in daemon runs backup cycles on a set interval, so cron is not required.

Vykar includes a WebDAV server and a Slint-based desktop GUI for browsing and restoring snapshots. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The project is not compatible with Borg or Restic repositories, and its authors advise against production use for now.

Key features

  • 01Encrypted repositories using AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305 with Argon2id key derivation.
  • 02Deduplication via FastCDC content-defined chunking.
  • 03Storage on local disks, S3-compatible providers, SFTP, or a REST server.
  • 04YAML configuration with multiple repositories, hooks, and command dumps.
  • 05Built-in scheduling through vykar daemon and a desktop GUI with tray backups.
  • 06Concurrent backups from multiple machines to the same repository.

Use cases

  • Backing up personal workstations or servers to S3 or an SFTP host.
  • Scheduling regular database dumps and backups without cron.
  • Running a self-hosted REST backup server with append-only protection.
  • Evaluating a new Rust-based backup tool alongside existing Borg or Restic setups.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Run the official install script from the README

  2. 2

    Generate a starter config file

    vykar config
  3. 3

    Initialize the repository

    vykar init
  4. 4

    Run a backup

    vykar backup

Things to know

  • The README says not to use it for production backups yet, so it is early-stage.
  • It is licensed under GPL-3.0, a copyleft license that may restrict how you can distribute derived work.

In collections

Privacy & local-first tools

Topics

#backup#rust#encryption#deduplication#s3#sftp#yaml#sysadmin

FAQ

What is vykar?
A fast, encrypted, deduplicated backup tool in Rust, configured through a YAML file, with S3, SFTP and REST storage support. Vykar is a command-line backup tool written in Rust. It stores snapshots in its own on-disk repository format, encrypting data with AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305 and deriving keys with Argon2id. Duplicate content is removed using FastCDC content-defined chunking, and data can be compressed with LZ4 or Zstandard.
Is vykar free to use? What license does it have?
vykar is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is vykar still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to vykar was on Nov 4, 2026.
What can I use vykar for?
Backing up personal workstations or servers to S3 or an SFTP host. Scheduling regular database dumps and backups without cron. Running a self-hosted REST backup server with append-only protection. Evaluating a new Rust-based backup tool alongside existing Borg or Restic setups.
How do I install vykar?
Run the official install script from the README Generate a starter config file: vykar config Initialize the repository: vykar init Run a backup: vykar backup
Where can I get vykar?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/borgbase/vykar

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