# Zero Data Loss Strategy - Master Guide

*Updated: January 21, 2026*

---

## 🎯 Goal

**Never lose data. Ever.** Even if:
- Your computer crashes
- Your drive fails
- Your Mac is stolen
- You accidentally delete everything
- A natural disaster destroys your home

---

## 🛡️ The Layered Defense System

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    ZERO DATA LOSS                            │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  L5: Offsite Physical (Drive at another location)           │
│  └─ Protects against: fire, flood, theft, disaster         │
│                                                             │
│  L4: Continuous Cloud (Backblaze)                           │
│  └─ Protects against: drive failure, ransomware            │
│                                                             │
│  L3: Daily Cloud (rclone + DigitalOcean)                   │
│  └─ Protects against: computer reset, data corruption       │
│                                                             │
│  L2: Hourly Local (Time Machine)                           │
│  └─ Protects against: accidental deletion, bad commits     │
│                                                             │
│  L1: Instant Code Sync (Git + GitHub)                       │
│  └─ Protects against: code loss, version history            │
│                                                             │
│  L0: Active Project Files (on your Mac)                     │
│                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

---

## 📊 Your Current Setup

| Layer | Tool | Status | Frequency |
|-------|------|--------|-----------|
| L1: Git + GitHub | gh CLI | ✅ Remix Sniper set up | Per commit |
| L3: Daily Cloud | rclone + DO | ⬜ Ready to set up | Daily (when on) |
| L2: Time Machine | macOS native | ⬜ Not set up | Hourly (when on) |
| L4: Backblaze | - | ⬜ Not set up | Continuous |
| L5: Offsite | External drive | ⬜ Not set up | Manual |

---

## ⚠️ The "MacBook Not Always On" Reality

**Problem:** Automated backups only run when your computer is ON.

**Impact:**
- Time Machine: Won't backup when MacBook is off
- Cloud backups via cron: Won't run when MacBook is off
- But: Git commits still happen whenever you work

**Solution:**
1. **Mac mini (always on):** Primary backup hub
2. **MacBook Pro (occasional):** Sync to cloud when on
3. **Cross-device sync:** Use cloud storage for active projects

---

## 🏗️ Architecture Diagram

```
                    ┌─────────────────┐
                    │   DigitalOcean  │
                    │     Spaces      │
                    └────────┬────────┘
                             │
        ┌────────────────────┼────────────────────┐
        │                    │                    │
   ┌────▼────┐         ┌─────▼─────┐        ┌────▼────┐
   │Mac mini │         │MacBook Pro│        │GitHub   │
   │(always) │         │(on/off)   │        │(code)   │
   └────┬────┘         └─────┬─────┘        └─────────┘
        │                    │
   ┌────▼────┐         ┌─────▼─────┐
   │Time     │         │rclone     │
   │Machine  │         │backup     │
   └─────────┘         └───────────┘
```

---

## 🚀 Setup Order

### Phase 1: Immediate (Today)
1. ✅ Git + GitHub (Remix Sniper done)
2. ⬜ rclone + DigitalOcean (you're getting the API key)
3. ⬜ First cloud backup

### Phase 2: This Week
1. ⬜ Get external drive + set up Time Machine (Mac mini)
2. ⬜ Run first Time Machine backup
3. ⬜ Test restore from cloud

### Phase 3: Optional (Best Practice)
1. ⬜ Set up Backblaze ($6/month, continuous)
2. ⬜ Second external drive for offsite (at friend/family)
3. ⬜ Configure MacBook Pro for travel backups

---

## 📁 What Each Layer Protects

### L1: Git + GitHub (Code Only)
- ✅ Source code
- ✅ Scripts
- ✅ Documentation
- ✅ Commit history
- ❌ Environment variables
- ❌ Database dumps
- ❌ User data

### L2: Time Machine (Everything Local)
- ✅ All files and folders
- ✅ Applications
- ✅ System settings
- ✅ Database files (if local)
- ✅ Point-in-time restore
- ⚠️  Drive must be connected
- ⚠️  Only when Mac is on

### L3: rclone + DigitalOcean (Critical Data)
- ✅ Database dumps
- ✅ Environment files
- ✅ Configuration files
- ✅ Tracking data
- ✅ Backup scripts
- ✅ Selected project folders
- ⚠️  Only when Mac is on
- ✅ Offsite (safe from local disaster)

### L4: Backblaze (Continuous Offsite)
- ✅ Everything on your Mac
- ✅ Continuous (runs in background)
- ✅ Offsite (safe from disaster)
- ✅ Easy restore via web portal
- ✅ Version history (30 days)
- ❌ $6/month per computer

### L5: Offsite Drive (Physical)
- ✅ Full system snapshot
- ✅ Air-gapped (not connected to internet)
- ✅ Immune to ransomware
- ✅ No subscription
- ⚠️  Manual process

---

## 🔄 Backup Frequency Matrix

| Data Type | Git | Time Machine | Cloud (rclone) | Backblaze |
|-----------|-----|--------------|----------------|-----------|
| Source code | ✅ Per commit | ✅ Hourly | ✅ Daily | ✅ Continuous |
| Environment files | ❌ Never | ✅ Hourly | ✅ Daily | ✅ Continuous |
| Database dumps | ❌ Never | ✅ Hourly | ✅ Daily | ✅ Continuous |
| User data | ❌ Never | ✅ Hourly | ✅ If configured | ✅ Continuous |
| System settings | ❌ Never | ✅ Hourly | ❌ No | ✅ Continuous |

---

## 🛠️ For Each New Project

Use the template:
```bash
cd /path/to/project
~/.clawdbot/workspace/PROJECT-BACKUP-TEMPLATE.sh
```

This automatically sets up:
1. ✅ Git + GitHub
2. ✅ Cloud backup script
3. ✅ .gitignore
4. ✅ Restore instructions

---

## 📋 Weekly Checklist

| Task | Done? |
|------|-------|
| Push latest code to GitHub | ⬜ |
| Cloud backup ran successfully | ⬜ |
| Time Machine last backup < 7 days | ⬜ |
| Test restore one random file | ⬜ |
| Check for backup errors in logs | ⬜ |

---

## 🚨 What If...

### Scenario: Mac mini crashes
1. Get new Mac mini
2. Install macOS
3. Restore from Time Machine (if drive survived)
4. If not: restore from DigitalOcean cloud
5. Clone repos from GitHub

### Scenario: MacBook Pro stolen
1. Remote wipe via iCloud (Find My Mac)
2. Restore from cloud (DigitalOcean)
3. Clone repos from GitHub
4. Activate Time Machine on replacement

### Scenario: House fire
1. Insurance claim
2. Get new hardware
3. Restore from DigitalOcean cloud
4. Clone repos from GitHub
5. If Backblaze: restore full system

### Scenario: Accidentally deleted critical file
1. Check Time Machine (easiest)
2. Or restore from last cloud backup
3. Or restore from GitHub (if code)

---

## 💡 Pro Tips

### For Mac mini (always on)
- Keep Time Machine drive connected
- Run cloud backups daily at 2 AM
- Use as primary backup hub

### For MacBook Pro (travel)
- Commit code frequently (push to GitHub)
- Run cloud backup before shutdown
- Keep a small USB drive for travel backups

### For Critical Projects
- Duplicate backups: cloud + 2nd drive
- Encrypt sensitive data (FileVault)
- Store recovery keys in 1Password

---

## 📞 Emergency Contacts

| Service | Link | Notes |
|---------|------|-------|
| GitHub | https://github.com/BusyBee3333 | Code repos |
| DigitalOcean | https://cloud.digitalocean.com | Spaces |
| Backblaze | https://secure.backblaze.com/b4_signup4.htm | (if set up) |
| 1Password | Sign in | All passwords |
| Buba | Discord tag me | Help |

---

## ✅ Setup Status

- [x] Git + GitHub for Remix Sniper
- [ ] rclone configured with DigitalOcean
- [ ] First cloud backup completed
- [ ] Time Machine set up (Mac mini)
- [ ] Backblaze configured (optional)
- [ ] Offsite drive prepared (optional)

---

## 💛 Final Thoughts

**Data loss isn't a matter of IF, it's WHEN.**

With this layered system:
- ✅ 3+ copies of everything
- ✅ Offsite protection
- ✅ Version history
- ✅ Easy restore

**You're now bulletproof.** 🛡️

---

**Next steps:**
1. Get DigitalOcean Spaces API key → follow guide
2. Get external drive for Time Machine → follow guide
3. Set up Backblaze (optional but recommended) → https://backblaze.com
4. Test restore process → restore one file to verify

**Tag me in Discord when you complete each step!** 💛
