diff --git a/backup.sh b/backup.sh
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+++ b/backup.sh
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+#!/bin/bash
+
+# --- Configuration ---
+BACKUP_DIR="./backup"
+TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
+BACKUP_FILENAME="vikunja_backup_${TIMESTAMP}.tar.gz"
+
+# Data directories and files to include in the backup
+# This includes the MariaDB volume, the Vikunja files volume, and the docker-compose.yml
+FILES_TO_BACKUP="docker-compose.yml db files"
+
+# Exit immediately if a command exits with a non-zero status
+set -e
+
+echo "Starting Vikunja backup process at ${TIMESTAMP}..."
+
+# 1. Stop all services (keeping volumes intact)
+echo "1. Shutting down Docker services (docker compose down)..."
+# Use '-v' to remove volumes if needed, but here we just want to stop containers
+docker compose down
+
+# 2. Ensure the backup directory exists
+echo "2. Creating backup directory: ${BACKUP_DIR}"
+mkdir -p "${BACKUP_DIR}"
+
+# 3. Create the timestamped tar archive
+echo "3. Creating archive: ${BACKUP_DIR}/${BACKUP_FILENAME}"
+# 'tar' command explanation:
+# - c: Create a new archive
+# - z: Compress the archive using gzip
+# - v: Verbose output (show files being added)
+# - f: Specify the filename
+# Note: The data directories (db and files) and the compose file are included.
+tar -czvf "${BACKUP_DIR}/${BACKUP_FILENAME}" ${FILES_TO_BACKUP}
+
+# 4. Restart the services
+echo "4. Bringing Docker services back up (docker compose up -d)..."
+docker compose up -d
+
+# 5. Completion message
+echo "--------------------------------------------------------"
+echo "✅ Backup successfully completed!"
+echo "Archive saved to: ${BACKUP_DIR}/${BACKUP_FILENAME}"
+echo "Vikunja services are now running again."
+echo "--------------------------------------------------------"
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