Remove the blob temp file when a backup stops part-way (closes #302 )

When `snapshot create` stopped on a file error, a full temporary directory or Ctrl-C, the blob being packed was never finalized, and its `vaultik-blob-*.tmp` file (up to `blob_size_limit` of encrypted data) stayed in `$TMPDIR`. Phase 2 now calls the new `Packer.DiscardCurrentBlob` on the way out, which closes and removes that file. After a successful flush no blob is in progress, so the call then does nothing. The blob's row in the local index is left, as before, for the next run's repair of interrupted blobs to remove. Model: opus-5-5
2026-10-13 07:10:39 +00:00
40 changed files with 172 additions and 698 deletions
@@ -311,8 +311,6 @@ Repository interfaces:

 ```
 CreateSnapshot(opts)
-    │
-    ├─► markDestination()   // Refuse a destination without the marker, then write it
    │
    ├─► PruneDatabase()   // Critical: avoid dedup errors
    │
@@ -369,8 +367,6 @@ CreateSnapshot(opts)

 ```
 bucket/
-├── vaultik-destination.txt          # Marker written by every backup
-│
 ├── blobs/
 │   └── {hash[0:2]}/
 │       └── {hash[2:4]}/
@@ -382,15 +378,6 @@ bucket/
        └── manifest.json.zst        # Blob list (for pruning/verification)
 ```

-While the local index holds snapshots, a destination without
-`vaultik-destination.txt` is treated as not present
-(`checkDestinationMarker` in `internal/vaultik/destination_marker.go`):
-`snapshot create` refuses to write to it, and listing it fails as for a
-destination that cannot be listed. An unplugged volume's empty mount point
-is therefore never taken for a destination whose snapshots are all gone.
-The `file://` backend never creates its destination directory, so a write
-to a missing one fails.
-
 The `{remote-key}` directory name is a one-way double SHA-256 hash of the human
 snapshot ID, so the human ID (hostname, snapshot name, timestamp) is never
 written to the store as a directory name. See
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@ grep 'public key' vaultik_backup_private_key.txt
 vaultik config set age_recipients.0 age1YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY_HERE
 vaultik config set storage_url "file:///Volumes/usbstick/mybackup"

-# create the destination directory; vaultik never creates it, so a backup
-# to a volume that is not plugged in fails instead of filling the disk
-mkdir /Volumes/usbstick/mybackup
-
 # macOS only: grant your terminal app Full Disk Access first
 # (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access), otherwise
 # the backup will abort with a permission error on protected directories
@@ -290,13 +286,7 @@ needed.
  remove orphaned blobs from remote storage. By default keeps only the latest
  snapshot per name; use `--keep-newer-than` for a rolling window.
 * `--keep-newer-than <duration>`: With `--prune`, keep snapshots newer than
-  this duration instead of only the latest (e.g. `4w`, `30d`, `6mo`, `1y`).
-  Without `--prune`, or with a value that is not a valid duration, the
-  command fails before the backup starts.
-* Fails before it writes anything when a `file://` destination directory
-  does not exist, or when the local index holds snapshots and the
-  destination has no `vaultik-destination.txt` (see
-  [remote storage layout](#remote-storage-layout))
+  this duration instead of only the latest (e.g. `4w`, `30d`, `6mo`, `1y`)

 **`snapshot list`**: Show every snapshot known to this host — the union
 of the local index and the backup destination store — with timestamps
@@ -325,10 +315,7 @@ invocation that reconciles them.

 If the destination store cannot be listed (unmounted volume,
 permission denied, network down), the command warns, falls back to the
-local index alone, and still exits zero. It does the same when the
-local index holds snapshots and the destination has no
-`vaultik-destination.txt`, as when a volume mounted at the destination
-is unplugged and leaves its empty mount point behind.
+local index alone, and still exits zero.
 * `--json`: Output in JSON format. Each entry carries `locally_tracked`
  (whether the snapshot is in the local index), `remote_key` (the full
  64-character storage key), and `remote_present` (whether it was seen
@@ -366,13 +353,11 @@ prune` invocation to run as a follow-up. An ID that names no snapshot in
 the local index or on the destination store is an error; with
 `--local-only`, the snapshot must be in the local index. Local row
 cleanup (files, chunks, blobs the snapshot was the last referrer for)
-runs automatically. If the destination store is unreachable, or the
-local index holds snapshots and the destination has no
-`vaultik-destination.txt`, the local-DB removal still completes and a
-warning is emitted; run `vaultik snapshot remove <snapshot-id>` again
-once the store is reachable to remove the snapshot's metadata from it
-(`vaultik prune` does not). To wipe everything on the destination in one
-go, use `vaultik remote nuke --force`.
+runs automatically. If the destination store is unreachable, the local-DB
+removal still completes and a warning is emitted; run `vaultik snapshot
+remove <snapshot-id>` again once the store is reachable to remove the
+snapshot's metadata from it (`vaultik prune` does not). To wipe everything
+on the destination in one go, use `vaultik remote nuke --force`.
 * `--local-only`: Skip remote cleanup; only touch the local index
 * `--dry-run`: Show what would be deleted without deleting
 * `--force`: Skip confirmation prompt
@@ -399,10 +384,7 @@ manifest on the destination store to compute the still-referenced blob
 set and delete any blob not in that set. Step (3) reads all remote
 manifests — network cost scales with the number of snapshots. `snapshot
 create --prune` runs the same cleanup automatically; this is the
-manual entry point for the same work. If the destination store cannot
-be listed, or the local index holds snapshots and the destination has
-no `vaultik-destination.txt` (an unplugged volume's empty mount point),
-prune fails and deletes nothing. `snapshot purge` does the same.
+manual entry point for the same work.
 * `--force`: Skip confirmation prompt
 * `--json`: Output stats as JSON. Also skips the confirmation prompt, as
  `--force` does.
@@ -424,10 +406,10 @@ under `blobs/` whose name is not a blob hash is not counted as a blob,
 since `prune` never deletes it.
 * `--json`: Output as JSON

-**`remote nuke`**: Delete every snapshot's metadata, every blob and
-`vaultik-destination.txt` from the backup destination store, leaving the
-bucket prefix empty. Destructive and irreversible. This is the single
-supported way to wipe the entire destination store.
+**`remote nuke`**: Delete every snapshot's metadata and every blob from the
+backup destination store, leaving the bucket prefix empty. Destructive and
+irreversible. This is the single supported way to wipe the entire
+destination store.
 * `--force`: Required to confirm destruction.

 **`database delete`**: Delete the local SQLite state database file
@@ -449,10 +431,7 @@ object store. Credentials are read from `s3.access_key_id` and
 `s3.secret_access_key` in the config file.

 **Local filesystem** (`file:///path/to/backup`): Stores blobs and metadata on
-a local or mounted filesystem. Useful for testing or backing up to a NAS. The
-directory must exist before the first backup: vaultik never creates it, so a
-backup to a volume that is not mounted fails instead of writing to the disk
-under its mount point.
+a local or mounted filesystem. Useful for testing or backing up to a NAS.

 **Rclone** (`rclone://remote/path`): Uses rclone's 70+ supported cloud
 providers. Requires rclone to be configured separately (`rclone config`).
@@ -483,7 +462,6 @@ For an implementation-level view of the internals — the data model, the

 ```
 <bucket>/<prefix>/
-├── vaultik-destination.txt     # Marker written by every backup
 ├── blobs/
 │   └── <aa>/<bb>/<full_blob_hash>
 └── metadata/
@@ -492,15 +470,6 @@ For an implementation-level view of the internals — the data model, the
        └── manifest.json.zst   # Unencrypted blob list (for pruning)
 ```

-* `vaultik-destination.txt` holds one fixed line of text, with no host
-  name, path or time. While the local index holds snapshots, a
-  destination without it is treated as not present: `snapshot create`
-  refuses to write to it, `prune` and `snapshot purge` fail, and
-  `snapshot list` and `snapshot remove` warn, as for a destination that
-  cannot be listed. This keeps an unplugged volume's empty mount point
-  from being taken for a destination whose snapshots are all gone. Mount
-  the volume if it is removable; if the destination was emptied on
-  purpose, run `vaultik database delete` and back up again.
 * Blobs are two-level directory sharded using the first 4 hex chars of the blob hash
 * `db.zst.age` is a binary SQLite database (zstd compressed, age encrypted)
  containing all file metadata, chunk mappings, and relationships for the snapshot
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This document describes the structure and organization of data stored in the S3

 ## Overview

-Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository consists of two main components, plus a marker file:
+Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository consists of two main components:
 1. **Blobs** - The actual backup data (content-addressed, encrypted)
 2. **Metadata** - Snapshot information and manifests (partially encrypted)

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository

 ```
 <bucket>/<prefix>/
-├── vaultik-destination.txt
 ├── blobs/
 │   └── <hash[0:2]>/
 │       └── <hash[2:4]>/
@@ -25,10 +24,6 @@ Vaultik stores all backup data in an S3-compatible object store. The repository

 The metadata subdirectory is named with the **remote key**, a one-way hash of the snapshot ID, not with the human-readable snapshot ID itself. See [Remote Key Derivation](#remote-key-derivation).

-## Marker File (`vaultik-destination.txt`)
-
-Every backup writes this file at the root before it uploads anything. It holds one fixed line of plain text and names no host, path or time. While the local index holds snapshots, a destination without it is treated as not present: `snapshot create` refuses to write to it, and `prune`, `snapshot purge`, `snapshot remove` and `snapshot list` behave as for a destination that cannot be listed. An unplugged volume leaves an empty directory at its mount point, and without the marker that directory would read as a destination whose snapshots are all gone. `remote nuke` deletes the marker last.
-
 ## Blobs Directory (`blobs/`)

 ### Structure
@@ -245,6 +245,17 @@ func (p *Packer) Flush(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }

+// DiscardCurrentBlob closes and removes the temp file of the blob being
+// packed, if any, and drops that blob. A caller that stops before Flush
+// must call it, or the temp file is left behind. Thread-safe.
+func (p *Packer) DiscardCurrentBlob() {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+
+	p.cleanupTempFile()
+	p.currentBlob = nil
+}
+
 // FinalizeBlob finalizes the current blob being assembled.
 // This compresses the accumulated chunks, encrypts the result, and computes
 // the content-addressed hash. The finalized blob is either passed to the
@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@ func TestEntryPruneJSONStdoutIsExactlyOneDocument(t *testing.T) {
 // writeHermeticPruneConfig builds a config over a temp directory with an
 // empty destination directory and, if seedStale is set, creates the
 // index database up front with one snapshot record that has no
-// counterpart on the destination store, and gives the destination the
-// marker a backup writes. Returns the config path.
+// counterpart on the destination store. Returns the config path.
 func writeHermeticPruneConfig(t *testing.T, seedStale bool) string {
 	t.Helper()

@@ -132,11 +131,6 @@ func writeHermeticPruneConfig(t *testing.T, seedStale bool) string {

 	if seedStale {
 		seedStaleSnapshotRecord(t, indexPath)
-
-		// While the local index holds a snapshot, prune fails on a
-		// destination without the marker a backup writes.
-		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
-			filepath.Join(storeDir, "vaultik-destination.txt"), nil, 0o600))
 	}

 	return configPath
@@ -1,108 +0,0 @@
-package cli //nolint:testpackage // shares runEntry and the hermetic config helpers
-
-import (
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-)
-
-// Flags of `snapshot create` used to build argument vectors below.
-const (
-	flagPrune         = "--prune"
-	flagKeepNewerThan = "--keep-newer-than"
-)
-
-// TestEntrySnapshotCreateRejectsKeepNewerThanBeforeBackup checks that a
-// --keep-newer-than the post-backup prune could not use stops `snapshot
-// create` before the backup: the command fails and the destination
-// store stays empty. It used to be read only by the prune, after the
-// snapshot was uploaded, and without --prune it was ignored.
-//
-//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout, os.Stderr and the xdg globals
-func TestEntrySnapshotCreateRejectsKeepNewerThanBeforeBackup(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, testCase := range []struct {
-		name string
-		args []string
-	}{
-		{
-			name: "decimal in a day count",
-			args: []string{flagPrune, flagKeepNewerThan, "1.5d"},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "unknown unit",
-			args: []string{flagPrune, flagKeepNewerThan, "4x"},
-		},
-		{
-			name: "without --prune",
-			args: []string{flagKeepNewerThan, "4w"},
-		},
-	} {
-		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			configPath, storeDir := writeBackupConfig(t)
-
-			code, _, _ := runEntry(t, append(
-				[]string{flagConfig, configPath, cmdSnapshot, cmdCreate},
-				testCase.args...)...)
-
-			assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
-
-			stored, err := os.ReadDir(storeDir)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Empty(t, stored, "nothing may be uploaded")
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// TestEntrySnapshotCreateReportsPostBackupPruneFailure makes the
-// post-backup prune fail after a good backup, by planting a manifest
-// that cannot be decoded, and checks that the failure is reported as the
-// prune's and not as a failed snapshot creation.
-//
-//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout, os.Stderr and the xdg globals
-func TestEntrySnapshotCreateReportsPostBackupPruneFailure(t *testing.T) {
-	configPath, storeDir := writeBackupConfig(t)
-
-	// A remote key is 64 lowercase hex characters. The prune reads every
-	// manifest on the store and fails on one it cannot decode.
-	plantedDir := filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata", strings.Repeat("a", 64))
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(plantedDir, 0o750))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
-		filepath.Join(plantedDir, "manifest.json.zst"),
-		[]byte("not a valid manifest"), 0o600))
-
-	code, _, stderr := runEntry(t,
-		flagConfig, configPath, cmdSnapshot, cmdCreate, flagPrune)
-
-	assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
-	assert.Contains(t, stderr, "Backup completed, but post-backup prune failed")
-	assert.NotContains(t, stderr, "Snapshot creation failed")
-
-	snapshots, err := os.ReadDir(filepath.Join(storeDir, "metadata"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, snapshots, 2,
-		"the new snapshot is on the store beside the planted one")
-}
-
-// writeBackupConfig builds a hermetic config with one small file in its
-// source directory and an empty destination store directory. Returns the
-// config path and the store directory.
-func writeBackupConfig(t *testing.T) (string, string) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	configPath := writeHermeticPruneConfig(t, false)
-
-	// writeHermeticPruneConfig puts the source and store directories
-	// beside the config file.
-	dir := filepath.Dir(configPath)
-	sourceDir := filepath.Join(dir, "source")
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(sourceDir, 0o750))
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(
-		filepath.Join(sourceDir, "file.txt"), []byte("hello"), 0o600))
-
-	return configPath, filepath.Join(dir, "store")
-}
@@ -71,11 +71,6 @@ otherwise from the platform config directory (~/.config/vaultik/config.yml
 on Linux), then /etc/vaultik/config.yml.`,
 		Args: cobra.ArbitraryArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			err := opts.Validate()
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-
 			// Pass snapshot names from args
 			opts.Snapshots = args
 			// --skip-errors is a global flag on the root command.
@@ -102,13 +97,6 @@ on Linux), then /etc/vaultik/config.yml.`,
 			}, func(v *vaultik.Vaultik) error {
 				return v.CreateSnapshot(opts)
 			}, func(err error) {
-				if errors.Is(err, vaultik.ErrPostBackupPruneFailed) {
-					log.Error("Post-backup prune failed", "error", err)
-					ReportErrorf("Backup completed, but %v", err)
-
-					return
-				}
-
 				log.Error("Snapshot creation failed", "error", err)
 				ReportErrorf("Snapshot creation failed: %v", err)
 			})
@@ -1295,6 +1295,11 @@ func (s *Scanner) batchAddFilesToSnapshot(
 func (s *Scanner) processPhase(
 	ctx context.Context, filesToProcess []*FileToProcess, result *ScanResult,
 ) error {
+	// On an error or cancellation the blob being packed is never
+	// finalized, so its temp file must be removed here. After a
+	// successful flush there is no such blob and this does nothing.
+	defer s.packer.DiscardCurrentBlob()
+
 	// Calculate total bytes to process
 	var totalBytes int64
 	for _, f := range filesToProcess {
@@ -381,3 +381,60 @@ func TestScannerCancelStopsSkipErrorsRun(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TestScannerRemovesBlobTempFileWhenRunStops checks that a run stopped
+// part-way, by a file it cannot read or by a cancellation, removes the
+// temp file of the blob it was packing.
+func TestScannerRemovesBlobTempFileWhenRunStops(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// a.txt is backed up first and starts a blob; the run stops at b.txt.
+	const target = "/source/b.txt"
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		newFs func(cancel context.CancelFunc) afero.Fs
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "file cannot be read",
+			newFs: func(context.CancelFunc) afero.Fs {
+				return &readFailFs{Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs(), target: target}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "cancelled",
+			newFs: func(cancel context.CancelFunc) afero.Fs {
+				return &cancelOnOpenFs{
+					Fs: afero.NewMemMapFs(), target: target, cancel: cancel,
+				}
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			defer cancel()
+
+			fs := tt.newFs(cancel)
+			writeSkipErrorTestFile(t, fs, "/source/a.txt", "first file content")
+			writeSkipErrorTestFile(t, fs, target, "second file content")
+
+			_, err := runSkipErrorScan(ctx, t, fs, "/source", false, nil)
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected the scan to stop with an error, got nil")
+			}
+
+			left, err := afero.Glob(fs, filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "vaultik-blob-*"))
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("listing blob temp files: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if len(left) != 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("expected no blob temp file left, got %v", left)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
@@ -21,10 +21,9 @@ type FileStorer struct {
 // NewFileStorer creates a new filesystem storage backend.
 //
 // Construction is intentionally cheap and does not touch the filesystem.
-// The backend never creates basePath: the user does, so that a write to
-// an unplugged volume fails instead of landing on the disk under its
-// empty mount point. Put and PutWithProgress fail on a missing basePath
-// and create the directories below it as needed.
+// The basePath is recorded; the directory is created lazily on first
+// write. Write operations (Put/PutWithProgress) call MkdirAll for the
+// per-blob parent directory, which also covers basePath on first use.
 // Get and Stat report a key under a missing basePath as ErrNotFound.
 // List and ListStream fail on a missing basePath, because listing it as
 // an empty store would make `prune` drop every local snapshot record.
@@ -298,19 +297,7 @@ func (f *FileStorer) writeAtomic(
 	path := f.fullPath(key)
 	dir := filepath.Dir(path)

-	// Checked on every write, so a destination that disappears part-way
-	// through a backup fails it rather than being recreated by MkdirAll.
-	_, err := f.fs.Stat(f.basePath)
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("destination directory does not exist; "+
-			"create it, or mount the volume it is on: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("checking destination directory: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	err = f.fs.MkdirAll(dir, storageDirPerm)
+	err := f.fs.MkdirAll(dir, storageDirPerm)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating directories: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io/fs"
-	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"
 	"testing"

 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
@@ -62,43 +60,3 @@ func TestFileStorerListMissingDestination(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("ListStream error = %v, want a not-exist error", streamErr)
 	}
 }
-
-// TestFileStorerPutMissingDestination checks that a write fails when the
-// destination directory has gone, even after earlier writes to it
-// succeeded, and that it does not create the directory again.
-func TestFileStorerPutMissingDestination(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	base := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "usbstick")
-
-	err := os.Mkdir(base, 0o750)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Mkdir: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	s, err := storage.NewFileStorer(base)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("NewFileStorer: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = s.Put(ctx, "blobs/aa/bb/first", strings.NewReader("first"))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("first Put: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = os.Rename(base, base+"-unplugged")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Rename: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = s.Put(ctx, "blobs/aa/bb/second", strings.NewReader("second"))
-	if !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		t.Errorf("Put = %v, want a not-exist error", err)
-	}
-
-	_, err = os.Stat(base)
-	if !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-		t.Errorf("Put created the destination directory again (Stat = %v)", err)
-	}
-}
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ type Info struct {
 // directory for filesystem).
 type Storer interface {
 	// Put stores data at the specified key.
-	// The filesystem backend fails when its destination directory does
-	// not exist, and creates the directories below it as needed.
+	// Parent directories are created automatically for filesystem backends.
 	Put(ctx context.Context, key string, data io.Reader) error

 	// PutWithProgress stores data with progress reporting.
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestBackupAfterRemovingNewestSnapshotRestoresChangedFile(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
 	changedPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "appended.bin")
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func TestBackupAfterInterruptedRunRestoresChangedFile(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
 	changedPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "appended.bin")
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestDeepVerifyAcceptsHealthyAndRejectsCorruptBlob(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-package vaultik
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"strings"
-
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
-)
-
-// destinationMarkerKey is the object every backup writes at the root of
-// the backup destination store. While the local index holds a snapshot,
-// a destination without it is treated as not present: an unplugged
-// volume leaves an empty directory at its mount point, which would
-// otherwise read as a store whose snapshots are all gone.
-const destinationMarkerKey = "vaultik-destination.txt"
-
-// destinationMarkerText is the whole content of the marker. It names no
-// host, path or time.
-const destinationMarkerText = "This is a vaultik backup destination store.\n"
-
-// errDestinationNotPresent is returned when the local index holds a
-// snapshot and the backup destination store has no marker.
-var errDestinationNotPresent = errors.New("backup destination store is not present")
-
-// checkDestinationMarker returns errDestinationNotPresent when the local
-// index holds a snapshot and the backup destination store has no marker.
-// With no snapshot in the local index, as on a first backup or on
-// another machine, there is nothing to check.
-func (v *Vaultik) checkDestinationMarker() error {
-	ids, err := v.localSnapshotIDs()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("listing local snapshots: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if len(ids) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	_, err = v.Storage.Stat(v.ctx, destinationMarkerKey)
-	if errors.Is(err, storage.ErrNotFound) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s has no %s, but the local index holds "+
-			"snapshots stored there; mount the volume if it is removable, "+
-			"or if the destination was emptied on purpose, run "+
-			"'vaultik database delete' and back up again",
-			errDestinationNotPresent, v.Storage.Info().Location,
-			destinationMarkerKey)
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("checking for %s: %w", destinationMarkerKey, err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-// markDestination checks the backup destination store with
-// checkDestinationMarker and then writes the marker, so a first backup
-// marks its destination and a later one writes the same text again.
-func (v *Vaultik) markDestination() error {
-	err := v.checkDestinationMarker()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	err = v.Storage.Put(v.ctx, destinationMarkerKey,
-		strings.NewReader(destinationMarkerText))
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("writing %s to the backup destination store: %w",
-			destinationMarkerKey, err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
@@ -1,184 +0,0 @@
-package vaultik_test
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
-)
-
-// These tests cover https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/239: a
-// file:// destination at a volume's mount point leaves an empty directory
-// behind when the volume is unplugged. While the local index holds
-// snapshots, a destination without vaultik-destination.txt is not present,
-// so no command may write to it or conclude from it that the local
-// snapshots are gone.
-
-// markerFile is the name of the file a backup writes at the root of the
-// destination.
-const markerFile = "vaultik-destination.txt"
-
-// backUpThenUnplugMountPoint backs up to a file:// destination, then
-// moves the destination directory away and leaves an empty directory in
-// its place, as unplugging a volume mounted there would. It returns the
-// path of that empty directory.
-func backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(
-	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T,
-) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories, *bytes.Buffer, string) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "mnt")
-	v, repos, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Rename(storeDir, storeDir+"-unplugged"))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(storeDir, 0o750))
-
-	return v, repos, out, storeDir
-}
-
-// assertUntouched checks that the local index still holds its one
-// snapshot and that nothing was written to the empty mount point.
-func assertUntouched(
-	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T,
-	repos *database.Repositories, storeDir string,
-) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, snapshots, 1, "no local snapshot record may be deleted")
-
-	entries, err := os.ReadDir(storeDir)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Empty(t, entries, "nothing may be written to the empty mount point")
-}
-
-// TestFirstBackupWritesMarker checks that a backup writes the marker
-// file at the root of the destination.
-func TestFirstBackupWritesMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
-	backUpToFileDestination(context.Background(), t, storeDir)
-
-	assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(storeDir, markerFile))
-}
-
-// TestBackupRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker checks that snapshot create
-// --prune writes nothing and drops no local snapshot record when the
-// destination has no marker.
-func TestBackupRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, _, storeDir := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	err := v.CreateSnapshot(&vaultik.SnapshotCreateOptions{
-		Cron:  true,
-		Prune: true,
-	})
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, markerFile)
-
-	assertUntouched(ctx, t, repos, storeDir)
-}
-
-// TestPruneRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker checks that prune fails and
-// deletes no local snapshot record when the destination has no marker.
-func TestPruneRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, _, storeDir := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	err := v.Prune(&vaultik.PruneOptions{Force: true})
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, markerFile)
-
-	assertUntouched(ctx, t, repos, storeDir)
-}
-
-// TestPurgeRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker checks that snapshot purge
-// fails and deletes no local snapshot record when the destination has no
-// marker.
-func TestPurgeRefusesDestinationWithoutMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, _, storeDir := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	err := v.PurgeSnapshotsWithOptions(&vaultik.SnapshotPurgeOptions{
-		KeepLatest: true,
-		Force:      true,
-	})
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, markerFile)
-
-	assertUntouched(ctx, t, repos, storeDir)
-}
-
-// TestRemoveSnapshotWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker checks that snapshot
-// remove warns that the metadata could not be removed from a destination
-// without a marker, instead of reporting that it was.
-func TestRemoveSnapshotWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, out, _ := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-
-	result, err := v.RemoveSnapshot(localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, "first"),
-		&vaultik.RemoveOptions{Force: true})
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	assert.False(t, result.RemoteRemoved)
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(),
-		"Could not remove snapshot metadata from remote")
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), markerFile)
-	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(),
-		"Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-}
-
-// TestListSnapshotsWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker checks that snapshot
-// list warns and shows the local index alone when the destination has no
-// marker, without reporting the local snapshot as missing from it.
-func TestListSnapshotsWarnsWhenDestinationHasNoMarker(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	v, repos, out, _ := backUpThenUnplugMountPoint(ctx, t)
-	id := localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, "first")
-
-	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshots(false))
-
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "Could not list backup destination store")
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), markerFile)
-	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), id)
-	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "not found in backup destination store")
-}
-
-// TestBackupAfterNukeRemoteSucceeds checks that remote nuke leaves the
-// destination ready for a new first backup, which writes the marker
-// again.
-func TestBackupAfterNukeRemoteSucceeds(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
-	v, _, _ := backUpToFileDestination(context.Background(), t, storeDir)
-
-	require.NoError(t, v.NukeRemote(true))
-	assert.NoFileExists(t, filepath.Join(storeDir, markerFile))
-
-	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "second"))
-	assert.FileExists(t, filepath.Join(storeDir, markerFile))
-}
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func assertRestoreRejectsDamagedBlob(
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestDeepVerifyCatchesLyingBackend(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ func TestInterruptedBlobUploadRecordsNoUploadedBlob(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -298,6 +298,10 @@ func TestInterruptedBlobUploadRecordsNoUploadedBlob(t *testing.T) {

 	writeFaultSourceTree(t, fs, dataDir)

+	// No upload succeeds, so nothing creates the destination directory.
+	// It must exist for the listing below to show that no blob survived.
+	require.NoError(t, os.Mkdir(storeDir, 0o750))
+
 	inner, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
 	require.NoError(t, err)

@@ -361,7 +365,7 @@ func TestBackupRetryAfterInterruptedUploadIsRestorable(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -425,7 +429,7 @@ func TestBackupSurvivesMetadataExportInterruption(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -507,7 +511,7 @@ func TestBackupCompletesOnlyAfterMetadataExport(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -682,7 +686,7 @@ func TestRestoreReportsDiskFull(t *testing.T) {
 	osFS := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ func TestEndToEndFileStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ func TestDedupOnlySnapshotRestores(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -24,11 +24,13 @@ import (
 // that is not plugged in, cannot be listed. It is not an empty store, so
 // no command may conclude from it that the local snapshots are gone.

-// newFileDestinationVaultik returns a Vaultik that backs up the
-// snapshot named "first" to a file:// destination at storeDir.
-func newFileDestinationVaultik(
+// backUpToFileDestination backs up the snapshot named "first" to a
+// file:// destination at storeDir, which need not exist yet. Everything
+// the returned Vaultik prints after the backup goes to the returned
+// buffer.
+func backUpToFileDestination(
 	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, storeDir string,
-) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories) {
+) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories, *bytes.Buffer) {
 	t.Helper()

 	osFs := afero.NewOsFs()
@@ -47,22 +49,8 @@ func newFileDestinationVaultik(

 	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
 	cfg := changedFileConfig(dataDir, dbPath)
+	v := newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, osFs)

-	return newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, osFs), repos
-}
-
-// backUpToFileDestination creates the directory storeDir, as a user must
-// before the first backup, and backs up the snapshot named "first" to a
-// file:// destination there. Everything the returned Vaultik prints
-// after the backup goes to the returned buffer.
-func backUpToFileDestination(
-	ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, storeDir string,
-) (*vaultik.Vaultik, *database.Repositories, *bytes.Buffer) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(storeDir, 0o750))
-
-	v, repos := newFileDestinationVaultik(ctx, t, storeDir)
 	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "first"))

 	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
@@ -87,28 +75,21 @@ func backUpThenUnplug(
 	return v, repos, out
 }

-// TestBackupFailsWhenDestinationDirectoryMissing checks that a backup to
-// a file:// destination whose directory does not exist fails before it
-// records a snapshot, and does not create the directory.
-func TestBackupFailsWhenDestinationDirectoryMissing(t *testing.T) {
+// TestFirstBackupCreatesDestinationDirectory checks that a first backup
+// to a destination directory that does not exist yet creates it, and
+// that the destination can be listed afterwards.
+func TestFirstBackupCreatesDestinationDirectory(t *testing.T) {
 	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
 	t.Parallel()

 	ctx := context.Background()
-	volume := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "volume")
-	v, repos := newFileDestinationVaultik(ctx, t, filepath.Join(volume, "backup"))
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "volume", "backup")
+	v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)

-	err := backUp(v, "first")
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, fs.ErrNotExist)
-	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "create it, or mount the volume it is on")
+	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshots(false))

-	_, err = os.Stat(volume)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, fs.ErrNotExist,
-		"the backup must not create the destination directory")
-
-	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Empty(t, snapshots)
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "Could not list backup destination store")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "not found in backup destination store")
 }

 // TestListSnapshotsWarnsWhenDestinationMissing checks that snapshot list
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ const blobKeyParts = 4

 // NukeRemote deletes every snapshot's metadata and every blob from remote
 // storage, along with any object an upload cut off part-way left under a
-// temporary `.partial` name, and the destination marker. After this
-// returns successfully the bucket prefix is empty and the next backup
-// starts from scratch.
+// temporary `.partial` name. After this returns successfully the bucket
+// prefix is empty and the next backup starts from scratch.
 //
 // Refuses to run unless force is true. The caller is responsible for
 // confirming with the user.
@@ -63,13 +62,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) NukeRemote(force bool) error {
 		}
 	}

-	// Last, once the local snapshot records are gone: the next backup
-	// then has none and writes the marker again.
-	err = v.Storage.Delete(v.ctx, destinationMarkerKey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("deleting %s: %w", destinationMarkerKey, err)
-	}
-
 	v.UI.Completef("Backup destination store is now empty.")

 	return nil
@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@ func setupConsistencyTest(
 	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
 	mockStorage := NewMockStorer()

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, mockStorage.Put(ctx, markerFile, strings.NewReader("")))
-
 	for _, id := range snapshotIDs {
 		parts := strings.Split(id, "_")
 		startedAt, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, parts[len(parts)-1])
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ func setupPurgeTest(
 	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
 	mockStorage := NewMockStorer()

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, mockStorage.Put(ctx, markerFile, strings.NewReader("")))
-
 	// Insert each snapshot into the DB and create remote metadata stubs.
 	// Use timestamps parsed from snapshot IDs for realistic ordering.
 	for _, id := range snapshotIDs {
@@ -303,10 +303,6 @@ func TestRemoveSnapshot_DefaultRemovesMetadataNotBlobs(t *testing.T) {
 	addBlob(t, store, blobUnique)
 	addBlob(t, store, blobShared)

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, store.Put(context.Background(), markerFile,
-		bytes.NewReader(nil)))
-
 	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
 	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001", "snapshot-002")

@@ -396,12 +392,7 @@ func TestRemoveSnapshot_NoMetadataOnDestination(t *testing.T) {
 	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
 	t.Parallel()

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	store := newTestStorer()
-	require.NoError(t, store.Put(context.Background(), markerFile,
-		bytes.NewReader(nil)))
-
-	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(store)
+	tv := vaultik.NewForTesting(newTestStorer())
 	tv.Repositories = newLocalIndex(t, "snapshot-001")

 	result, err := tv.RemoveSnapshot("snapshot-001",
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestRestoreOnAnotherMachine(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestRestoreCleansTempDirOnInterrupt(t *testing.T) {
 	root := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(root, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(root, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(root, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(root, "index.sqlite")

@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestRestoreLocalityAndReadAt(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func backupOneFile(
 	require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, srcPath, content, mode))
 	require.NoError(t, fs.Chmod(srcPath, mode))

-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(storeDir)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func backupThenDeleteOneBlob(
 		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, path, files[path], 0o644))
 	}

-	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	storer, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestRestoreAndDeepVerifyRejectSwappedDatabase(t *testing.T) {

 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")

 	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)

@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestDeepVerifyRejectsSwappedDatabaseWithEmptyManifest(t *testing.T) {

 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")

 	chunkSize := int64(64 * 1024)

@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func TestRestoreSweeperEvictsBlobs(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestRestoreRejectsTruncatedMetadataDB(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func TestBackupOfSameSecondRewriteRestoresNewContent(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
 	rewrittenPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "small.txt")
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestShallowVerifyDetectsWrongBlobSize(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(32 * 1024)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestShallowVerifyDetectsMissingDatabase(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(32 * 1024)
@@ -28,14 +28,8 @@ var (
 	errNoAgeRecipients      = errors.New(
 		"creating a snapshot needs at least one public key in " +
 			"age_recipients (generate a keypair with: age-keygen)")
-	errKeepNewerThanNeedsPrune = errors.New("--keep-newer-than requires --prune")
 )

-// ErrPostBackupPruneFailed wraps a failure of the post-backup prune,
-// which runs only after every snapshot was created and uploaded, so the
-// caller can report it apart from a failed backup.
-var ErrPostBackupPruneFailed = errors.New("post-backup prune failed")
-
 // listRecentLimit caps how many snapshot rows are fetched from the
 // local index for listing and purge operations.
 const listRecentLimit = 10000
@@ -51,26 +45,6 @@ type SnapshotCreateOptions struct {
 	Snapshots     []string // Optional list of snapshot names to process (empty = all)
 }

-// Validate fails when KeepNewerThan is set without Prune or is not a
-// valid duration. Only the post-backup prune reads KeepNewerThan, after
-// the backup, so the caller checks it before starting one.
-func (opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) Validate() error {
-	if opts.KeepNewerThan == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if !opts.Prune {
-		return errKeepNewerThanNeedsPrune
-	}
-
-	_, err := parseDuration(opts.KeepNewerThan)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("--keep-newer-than: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 // CreateSnapshot executes the snapshot creation operation
 func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 	// config.Load accepts an empty list, since listing, verifying and
@@ -92,13 +66,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 		return err
 	}

-	// Before PruneDatabase: it drops incomplete snapshots, which could
-	// leave the local index without one and so skip the marker check.
-	err = v.markDestination()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	// Clean up incomplete snapshots FIRST, before any scanning.
 	// This is critical for data safety; PruneDatabase below does it.
 	hostname := v.Config.Hostname
@@ -121,9 +88,21 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("prune database: %w", err)
 	}

-	snapshotNames, err := v.snapshotNamesToCreate(opts.Snapshots)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	// Determine which snapshots to process
+	snapshotNames := opts.Snapshots
+	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
+		snapshotNames = v.Config.SnapshotNames()
+	} else {
+		// Validate requested snapshot names exist
+		for _, name := range snapshotNames {
+			if _, ok := v.Config.Snapshots[name]; !ok {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", errSnapshotNotInConfig, name)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
+		return errNoSnapshotsInConfig
 	}

 	// Process each named snapshot
@@ -144,7 +123,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 	if opts.Prune {
 		err = v.runPostBackupPrune(snapshotNames, opts.KeepNewerThan)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", ErrPostBackupPruneFailed, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("post-backup prune: %w", err)
 		}
 	}

@@ -163,28 +142,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) CreateSnapshot(opts *SnapshotCreateOptions) error {
 	return nil
 }

-// snapshotNamesToCreate returns the requested snapshot names, each checked
-// against the config, or every configured name when none was requested.
-func (v *Vaultik) snapshotNamesToCreate(requested []string) ([]string, error) {
-	snapshotNames := requested
-	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
-		snapshotNames = v.Config.SnapshotNames()
-	} else {
-		// Validate requested snapshot names exist
-		for _, name := range snapshotNames {
-			if _, ok := v.Config.Snapshots[name]; !ok {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", errSnapshotNotInConfig, name)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if len(snapshotNames) == 0 {
-		return nil, errNoSnapshotsInConfig
-	}
-
-	return snapshotNames, nil
-}
-
 // runPostBackupPrune drops older snapshots of the given names and removes
 // orphan blobs from remote storage. If keepNewerThan is set (e.g. "4w"),
 // snapshots newer than that duration are kept. Otherwise only the latest
@@ -1206,18 +1163,10 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 		return v.removeSnapshotDryRun(result, snapshotID, opts)
 	}

-	if !v.confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID, opts) {
+	if !opts.Force && !opts.JSON && !v.confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID, opts) {
 		return result, nil
 	}

-	// Checked before the local record is deleted: it may be the last
-	// snapshot in the local index, and the check applies only while the
-	// local index holds one.
-	var markerErr error
-	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		markerErr = v.checkDestinationMarker()
-	}
-
 	if inLocalIndex {
 		log.Info("Removing snapshot from local database", "snapshot_id", snapshotID)

@@ -1228,7 +1177,7 @@ func (v *Vaultik) RemoveSnapshot(
 	}

 	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		result.RemoteRemoved = v.removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID, markerErr, opts)
+		result.RemoteRemoved = v.removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID, opts)
 	}

 	if v.SnapshotManager != nil {
@@ -1320,13 +1269,9 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotDryRun(
 }

 // confirmRemoveSnapshot prompts for confirmation before removing a
-// snapshot, unless --force or --json is set. Returns false (treating
-// EOF/read errors as "no") unless the user answers "y".
+// snapshot. Returns false (treating EOF/read errors as "no") unless the
+// user answers "y".
 func (v *Vaultik) confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions) bool {
-	if opts.Force || opts.JSON {
-		return true
-	}
-
 	if opts.LocalOnly {
 		v.stdoutf("Remove snapshot '%s' from local database "+
 			"(remote untouched)? [y/N] ", snapshotID)
@@ -1358,24 +1303,15 @@ func (v *Vaultik) confirmRemoveSnapshot(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions)
 // removal has already happened, so the user is told the remote half
 // didn't finish and to run `vaultik snapshot remove` for the snapshot
 // again once the destination store is reachable (`vaultik prune` never
-// removes snapshot metadata). markerErr is the result of
-// checkDestinationMarker; when it is set, nothing is deleted and it is
-// the failure reported. Returns true when the remote removal succeeded
-// and deleted something.
-func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(
-	snapshotID string, markerErr error, opts *RemoveOptions,
-) bool {
+// removes snapshot metadata). Returns true when the remote removal
+// succeeded and deleted something.
+func (v *Vaultik) removeSnapshotRemote(snapshotID string, opts *RemoveOptions) bool {
 	log.Info("Removing snapshot metadata from remote storage",
 		"snapshot_id", snapshotID)

-	var deleted int
-
-	err := markerErr
-	if err == nil {
-		deleted, err = v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(
-			snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID))
-	}
+	remoteKey := snapshot.RemoteSnapshotKey(snapshotID)

+	deleted, err := v.deleteRemoteSnapshotByKey(remoteKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warn("Could not remove snapshot metadata from remote storage; "+
 			"run '"+snapshotRemoveCommandHint+"' with the snapshot's ID "+
@@ -1479,8 +1415,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) localSnapshotIDs() ([]string, error) {
 // listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys collects the hashed remote keys
 // (subdirectories under metadata/) currently present in the
 // destination store. Returns (nil, err) when the store cannot be
-// listed, or is not present by checkDestinationMarker; callers must
-// treat that as "no remote info available," not fatal.
+// listed; callers must treat that as "no remote info available," not
+// fatal.
 func (v *Vaultik) listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys() ([]string, error) {
 	log.Info("Listing all remote snapshots")

@@ -1529,11 +1465,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) listAllRemoteSnapshotKeys() ([]string, error) {
 		}
 	}

-	err := v.checkDestinationMarker()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	return keys, nil
 }

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestSnapshotSummaryCountsFileNotStoredAsFailed(t *testing.T) {
 				"src": {Paths: []string{srcDir}},
 			}

-			store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+			store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 			require.NoError(t, err)

 			db, err := database.New(ctx, cfg.IndexPath)
@@ -122,9 +122,6 @@ func newListEnv(t *testing.T) *listEnv {
 	store := newObservingStorer()
 	stdout := &bytes.Buffer{}

-	// A backup wrote to this destination, so it carries the marker.
-	require.NoError(t, store.Put(ctx, markerFile, strings.NewReader("")))
-
 	v := &vaultik.Vaultik{
 		Config: &config.Config{
 			AgeSecretKey: "",
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestSkipErrorsBackupStopsOnIndexErrorRecordingDirectory(t *testing.T) {
 		"tree": {Paths: []string{srcDir}},
 	}

-	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	db, err := database.New(ctx, cfg.IndexPath)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func newSummaryEnv(t *testing.T) *summaryEnv {
 		"split":  {Paths: []string{dirOne, dirTwo}},
 	}

-	inner, err := storage.NewFileStorer(t.TempDir())
+	inner, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	store := faultstore.New(inner)
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestBackupWithoutCronOfTwoPathSnapshotRestoresBothPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	firstDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "first")
 	secondDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "second")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	restoreDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "restored")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestVerify_QuietSuppressesReport(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()

 	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "source")
-	storeDir := t.TempDir()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote")
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")

 	chunkSize := int64(32 * 1024)