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   Moritz Strohm (mstrohm@kanoa.de)'s status on Monday, 13-Jan-2025 06:04:17 JST Moritz Strohm

   DVD-RAM media can be used to back up bare git repositories and store them for a long time. Because DVD-RAM media behave like USB-Sticks, updating the repositories is possible at any time.

   You could create a local archive of software with it so that in case something terrible happens with your internet access or your source code platform, you would still be able to build and develop software offline.

   1/?

   #Software #Backup #Archive #Git #Repository #DVDRAM

   • alcinnz repeated this.
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     Moritz Strohm (mstrohm@kanoa.de)'s status on Monday, 13-Jan-2025 06:14:25 JST Moritz Strohm

     in reply to

     In an apocalyptical scenario where the internet has collapsed, DVD-RAM media could be used to exchange code by copying the bare repos from one disc to another and then transporting it to the next city/village/shelter. Granted, merging can become difficult in that scenario if several people in different locations are working on the main branch, but cherry-picking might resolve that problem even in these circumstances.

     3/3

     alcinnz repeated this.
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     Moritz Strohm (mstrohm@kanoa.de)'s status on Monday, 13-Jan-2025 06:14:26 JST Moritz Strohm

     in reply to

     USB-Sticks and SSDs need power at some point to charge the tiny capacitors that make up flash memory cells. Otherwise data is lost. Magnetic drives can be damaged by strong magnets and if the drive electronics fail (by an EMP for example), it is difficult to retrieve the data.

     In contrast, optical discs need to be protected from (sun)light and high temperatures. If one drive fails, the disc can be read on another drive.

     2/3

     alcinnz repeated this.
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     Moritz Strohm (mstrohm@kanoa.de)'s status on Monday, 13-Jan-2025 06:19:24 JST Moritz Strohm

     in reply to

     I formatted a DVD-RAM and then put bare repositories onto it. Not just repositories from my own software, but also bare repositories of u-boot and ffmpeg. I would have backed-up linux, too, but the full bare repository would be too big. It must fit on 4.3 GiB.

     #DVDRAM #Software #backup #uboot #ffmpeg #linux #git

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     Moritz Strohm (mstrohm@kanoa.de)'s status on Monday, 13-Jan-2025 06:33:27 JST Moritz Strohm

     in reply to

     I looked if there are still new DVD-RAM discs available to buy here in germany. There are, but only in some online shops. People in other parts of the world might have more choices.

     If no DVD-RAM media are available, DVD-RW media could be used as an alternative. The workflow is not as straightforward as with DVD-RAM though:

     1. Copy the whole disc content (repositories) to the computer
     2. Update repositories
     3. Burn all the content (repositories) onto disc