Refuse a relative file:// storage_url and decode its escapes (closes #299)

The path after file:// was used as written. file://dest resolved
against the working directory, so a backup run from another directory
wrote elsewhere, exited 0 and left a snapshot that could not be
restored; my%20stick created a directory with that literal name.

Config load now refuses a file:// storage_url whose path is not
absolute. ParseStorageURL refuses it too and decodes percent-escapes;
a literal space still works. The rule is written in both packages
because config cannot import storage, which imports config.

A % not followed by two hex digits now fails when the storage is
opened, not at config load.

Model: opus-5-5

ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ Key methods:
 - `Scan(ctx, path, snapshotID)` → Main scan operation
 
 Scan phases:
-1. **Phase 1**: Walk directory, identify files needing processing
+1. **Phase 0**: Detect deleted files from previous snapshots
-2. **Phase 1b**: Count as deleted the files that the previous snapshot of the same name lists and the walk did not find; a file that is excluded, or inside an excluded directory, is not counted
+2. **Phase 1**: Walk directory, identify files needing processing
 3. **Phase 2**: Process files (chunk → pack → upload)
 
 #### SnapshotManager
@@ -320,13 +320,13 @@ CreateSnapshot(opts)
     │       │
     │       ├─► scanner.Scan(ctx, path, snapshotID)
     │       │       │
+    │       │       ├─► Phase 0: detectDeletedFiles()
+    │       │       │
     │       │       ├─► Phase 1: scanPhase()
     │       │       │       Walk directory
     │       │       │       Check file metadata changes
     │       │       │       Build list of files to process
     │       │       │
-    │       │       ├─► Phase 1b: detectDeletedFiles()
-    │       │       │
     │       │       └─► Phase 2: processPhase()
     │       │               For each file:
     │       │                   chunker.ChunkReaderStreaming()

README.md

@@ -286,9 +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`).
+  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.
 
 **`snapshot list`**: Show every snapshot known to this host — the union
 of the local index and the backup destination store — with timestamps
@@ -403,9 +401,7 @@ orphaned blob figures are reported as unknown; `--json` gives them as
 `null`, lists the remote key of each unreadable manifest in
 `unreadable_manifests` and counts the manifests under skipped names in
 `skipped_manifest_count`. An unreadable manifest also leaves its
-snapshot's blob count and blob size unknown, `null` in `--json`. A file
+snapshot's blob count and blob size unknown, `null` in `--json`.
-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 and every blob from the
@@ -433,7 +429,10 @@ 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.
+a local or mounted filesystem. Useful for testing or backing up to a NAS. The
+path must be absolute; a relative one is refused when the config loads.
+Percent-escapes in the path are decoded, so `my%20stick` and `my stick` name
+the same directory.
 
 **Rclone** (`rclone://remote/path`): Uses rclone's 70+ supported cloud
 providers. Requires rclone to be configured separately (`rclone config`).

TODO.md

@@ -22,13 +22,16 @@ the tag exists and is exercised; what is left is merging `next` to
 
 # Completed Steps
 
-- 2026-10-13: Stopped `remote info` counting a file under `blobs/` that
+- 2026-10-13: Refused a `file://` `storage_url` whose path is relative
-  is not a blob as an orphaned blob
+  ([issue #299](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/299)). The text
-  ([issue #295](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/295)). A stray
+  after `file://` was used as written, so `file://dest` resolved against
-  file such as `.DS_Store` was reported as an orphaned blob and the
+  the working directory: a backup run from another directory wrote to a
-  report advised running `prune`, which skips such a file and deleted
+  different destination, still exited 0, and left a snapshot that could
-  nothing. `remote info` now takes its blob list from the same listing
+  not be restored. Such a URL now fails when the config loads, with an
-  `prune` uses, in the table and in `--json`.
+  error asking for an absolute path. Percent-escapes in the path are now
+  decoded, so `my%20stick` names the directory `my stick` instead of
+  creating one named `my%20stick`; a path written with a literal space
+  works as before.
 
 - 2026-10-13: Made `snapshot remove` fail for a snapshot that does not
   exist ([issue #293](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/293)).

internal/cli/entry_snapshot_create_prune_test.go

@@ -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")
-}

internal/cli/snapshot.go

@@ -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)
 			})

internal/config/config.go

@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ var (
 	errBadS3PartSize    = errors.New("s3.part_size must be between 5MiB and 5GiB")
 	errBadStorageScheme = errors.New(
 		"storage_url must start with s3://, file://, or rclone://")
+	errFileURLNotAbsolute = errors.New(
+		"a file:// storage_url needs an absolute path, " +
+			"as in file:///path/to/backup")
 	errStorageNotConfigured = errors.New(
 		"storage not configured; set storage_url or provide s3.endpoint + " +
 			"s3.bucket + credentials")
@@ -461,11 +464,18 @@ func (c *Config) validateStorage() error {
 
 // validateStorageURL validates URL-based storage configuration. File and
 // rclone URLs need no credentials; S3 URLs require the legacy s3.*
-// credential fields.
+// credential fields. A file URL must name an absolute path: a relative one
+// would resolve against the working directory, so the destination would
+// move with it.
 func (c *Config) validateStorageURL() error {
 	switch {
 	case strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "file://"):
-		// File storage doesn't need S3 credentials
+		// storage.ParseStorageURL applies the same rule, but config
+		// cannot import storage, which imports config.
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "file:///") {
+			return errFileURLNotAbsolute
+		}
+
 		return nil
 	case strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "rclone://"):
 		// Rclone storage uses rclone's own config

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -337,6 +337,35 @@ func TestLoadS3PartSize(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// TestLoadRejectsRelativeFileURL checks that a file:// storage_url with a
+// relative path fails at load. Accepted, it would resolve against the
+// working directory, so a backup run from another directory would write
+// to a different destination and still succeed.
+func TestLoadRejectsRelativeFileURL(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const relativeConfig = "snapshots:\n" +
+		"  test:\n" +
+		"    paths: [/tmp/vaultik-test-source]\n" +
+		"storage_url: file://dest\n"
+
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.yml")
+
+	err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(relativeConfig), 0o600)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = Load(path)
+	if !errors.Is(err, errFileURLNotAbsolute) {
+		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v, want errFileURLNotAbsolute", err)
+	}
+
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "absolute path") {
+		t.Errorf("error %q does not say to use an absolute path", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 // TestValidateAgeRecipients checks that recipients are parsed at config load
 // (a bad entry fails immediately, not mid-backup) and that no invalid entry —
 // least of all a pasted secret key — is echoed in the error. An empty list

internal/database/files.go

@@ -277,50 +277,6 @@ func (r *FileRepository) ListUnderPath(
 	return files, rows.Err()
 }
 
-// ListUnderPathInSnapshot returns the files that ListUnderPath returns
-// for path and that the snapshot lists, in no particular order.
-func (r *FileRepository) ListUnderPathInSnapshot(
-	ctx context.Context, path, snapshotID string,
-) ([]*File, error) {
-	path = strings.TrimRight(path, "/")
-	dirPrefix := path + "/"
-
-	query := `
-		SELECT f.id, f.path, f.source_path, f.mtime, f.mtime_nsec, f.size,
-			f.mode, f.uid, f.gid, f.link_target
-		FROM files f
-		JOIN snapshot_files sf ON sf.file_id = f.id
-		WHERE sf.snapshot_id = ?
-		  AND (f.path = ? OR substr(f.path, 1, length(?)) = ?)
-	`
-
-	rows, err := r.db.conn.QueryContext(ctx, query,
-		snapshotID, path, dirPrefix, dirPrefix)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("querying files: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	defer func() {
-		err := rows.Close()
-		if err != nil {
-			Fatalf("failed to close rows: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	var files []*File
-
-	for rows.Next() {
-		file, err := r.scanFileRows(rows)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("scanning file: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		files = append(files, file)
-	}
-
-	return files, rows.Err()
-}
-
 // ListIDsWithChunksNotInUploadedBlobs returns the IDs of the files whose
 // path starts with prefix and that list at least one chunk held by no
 // blob whose upload has completed (uploaded_ts set). A new snapshot

internal/database/files_test.go

@@ -212,65 +212,6 @@ func TestFileRepositoryListUnderPath(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// ListUnderPathInSnapshot leaves out files outside path and files the
-// snapshot does not list, though another snapshot lists them.
-func TestFileRepositoryListUnderPathInSnapshot(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	db, cleanup := setupTestDB(t)
-	defer cleanup()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	files := database.NewFileRepository(db)
-	snapshots := database.NewSnapshotRepository(db)
-
-	listed := map[string][]string{
-		"one": {"/src/a.txt", "/src2/c.txt"},
-		"two": {"/src/b.txt"},
-	}
-
-	for snapshotID, paths := range listed {
-		err := snapshots.Create(ctx, nil, &database.Snapshot{
-			ID:        types.SnapshotID(snapshotID),
-			Hostname:  "host",
-			StartedAt: time.Now(),
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to create snapshot %s: %v", snapshotID, err)
-		}
-
-		for _, path := range paths {
-			err := files.Create(ctx, nil, &database.File{
-				Path:  types.FilePath(path),
-				MTime: time.Now().Truncate(time.Second),
-				Mode:  0644,
-			})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("failed to create %s: %v", path, err)
-			}
-
-			err = snapshots.AddFile(ctx, nil, snapshotID, path)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("failed to add %s to %s: %v", path, snapshotID, err)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	found, err := files.ListUnderPathInSnapshot(ctx, "/src", "one")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to list files: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	got := make([]string, 0, len(found))
-	for _, f := range found {
-		got = append(got, f.Path.String())
-	}
-
-	if !slices.Equal(got, []string{"/src/a.txt"}) {
-		t.Errorf("got %q, want only /src/a.txt", got)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestFileRepositorySymlink(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/snapshot/module.go

@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@ type ScannerParams struct {
 	Fs             afero.Fs
 	Exclude        []string // Exclude patterns (combined global + snapshot-specific)
 	SkipErrors     bool     // Skip file read errors (log loudly but continue)
-	// PreviousSnapshotID is the most recent completed snapshot of the
-	// same name, "" for none.
-	PreviousSnapshotID string
 }
 
 // Module exports backup functionality as an fx module.
@@ -47,18 +44,17 @@ func provideScannerFactory(
 		}
 
 		return NewScanner(ScannerConfig{
-			FS:                 params.Fs,
+			FS:               params.Fs,
-			ChunkSize:          cfg.ChunkSize.Int64(),
+			ChunkSize:        cfg.ChunkSize.Int64(),
-			Repositories:       repos,
+			Repositories:     repos,
-			Storage:            storer,
+			Storage:          storer,
-			MaxBlobSize:        cfg.BlobSizeLimit.Int64(),
+			MaxBlobSize:      cfg.BlobSizeLimit.Int64(),
-			CompressionLevel:   cfg.CompressionLevel,
+			CompressionLevel: cfg.CompressionLevel,
-			AgeRecipients:      cfg.AgeRecipients,
+			AgeRecipients:    cfg.AgeRecipients,
-			EnableProgress:     params.EnableProgress,
+			EnableProgress:   params.EnableProgress,
-			UI:                 params.UI,
+			UI:               params.UI,
-			Exclude:            excludes,
+			Exclude:          excludes,
-			SkipErrors:         params.SkipErrors,
+			SkipErrors:       params.SkipErrors,
-			PreviousSnapshotID: params.PreviousSnapshotID,
 		})
 	}
 }

internal/snapshot/scanner.go

@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ type Scanner struct {
 	compressionLevel int
 	ageRecipient     string
 	snapshotID       string // Current snapshot being processed
-	// previousSnapshotID is the most recent completed snapshot of the
-	// same name, "" for none. Only a file it lists can be counted as
-	// deleted.
-	previousSnapshotID string
 	// currentSourcePath is the source directory being scanned, stored with
 	// each file record.
 	currentSourcePath string
@@ -133,9 +129,6 @@ type ScannerConfig struct {
 	// SkipErrors skips files that cannot be opened or read (log loudly but
 	// continue); packer, database, encryption, and upload errors still abort.
 	SkipErrors bool
-	// PreviousSnapshotID is the most recent completed snapshot of the
-	// same name, "" for none.
-	PreviousSnapshotID string
 }
 
 // ScanResult contains the results of a scan operation. Files and bytes
@@ -211,7 +204,6 @@ func NewScanner(cfg ScannerConfig) *Scanner {
 		compiledExclude:    compiledExclude,
 		progress:           progress,
 		skipErrors:         cfg.SkipErrors,
-		previousSnapshotID: cfg.PreviousSnapshotID,
 		ui:                 uiw,
 		pendingChunkHashes: make(map[string]struct{}),
 	}
@@ -263,9 +255,8 @@ func (s *Scanner) Scan(
 
 	filesToProcess := scanResult.FilesToProcess
 
-	// Phase 1b: Detect deleted files by comparing the previous snapshot
+	// Phase 1b: Detect deleted files by comparing DB against scanned files
-	// of this name against scanned files
+	err = s.detectDeletedFilesFromMap(ctx, knownFiles, existingFiles, result)
-	err = s.detectDeletedFiles(ctx, path, existingFiles, result)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("detecting deleted files: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -445,8 +436,9 @@ func (s *Scanner) summarizeScanPhase(
 }
 
 // loadKnownFiles loads the known files at and beneath path from the
-// database into a map for fast lookup. This avoids per-file database
+// database into a map for fast lookup. Every loaded file the scan does
-// queries during the scan phase.
+// not find is counted as deleted. This avoids per-file database queries
+// during the scan phase.
 func (s *Scanner) loadKnownFiles(
 	ctx context.Context, path string,
 ) (map[string]*database.File, error) {
@@ -1941,28 +1933,21 @@ func (s *Scanner) queueFileForBatchInsert(
 	})
 }
 
-// detectDeletedFiles counts as deleted each file at or beneath path that
+// detectDeletedFilesFromMap finds files that existed in previous snapshots
-// the previous snapshot of this name lists and the walk did not find.
+// but no longer exist. Uses pre-loaded maps to avoid any filesystem or
-// A file that is excluded, or inside an excluded directory, is not
+// database access.
-// counted: the walk skips it whether or not it is still on disk.
+func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFilesFromMap(
-func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFiles(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	path string,
+	knownFiles map[string]*database.File,
 	existingFiles map[string]struct{},
 	result *ScanResult,
 ) error {
-	if s.previousSnapshotID == "" {
+	if len(knownFiles) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	previousFiles, err := s.repos.Files.ListUnderPathInSnapshot(
+	// Check each known file against the enumerated set (no filesystem access needed)
-		ctx, path, s.previousSnapshotID)
+	for path, file := range knownFiles {
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("listing files of snapshot %s: %w",
-			s.previousSnapshotID, err)
-	}
-
-	for _, file := range previousFiles {
 		// Check context cancellation periodically
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -1970,16 +1955,13 @@ func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFiles(
 		default:
 		}
 
-		filePath := file.Path.String()
+		// Check if the file exists in our enumerated set
-
+		if _, exists := existingFiles[path]; !exists {
-		_, exists := existingFiles[filePath]
+			// File has been deleted
-		if exists || s.excludedOrInExcludedDir(filePath, path) {
+			result.FilesDeleted++
-			continue
+			result.BytesDeleted += file.Size
+			log.Debug("Detected deleted file", "path", path, "size", file.Size)
 		}
-
-		result.FilesDeleted++
-		result.BytesDeleted += file.Size
-		log.Debug("Detected deleted file", "path", filePath, "size", file.Size)
 	}
 
 	if result.FilesDeleted > 0 {
@@ -1990,20 +1972,6 @@ func (s *Scanner) detectDeletedFiles(
 	return nil
 }
 
-// excludedOrInExcludedDir reports whether filePath, which is at or
-// beneath rootPath, or any directory between rootPath and it, matches an
-// exclude pattern. A pattern such as **/node_modules matches the
-// directory but not the files inside it, which the walk skips too.
-func (s *Scanner) excludedOrInExcludedDir(filePath, rootPath string) bool {
-	for p := filePath; len(p) > len(rootPath); p = filepath.Dir(p) {
-		if s.shouldExclude(p, rootPath) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-
-	return false
-}
-
 // wrapPermissionError augments permission errors with platform-specific
 // remediation instructions. On macOS, TCC-protected directories (Calendars,
 // Reminders, Photos, etc.) return EPERM unless the running application has

internal/storage/url.go

@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@ const (
 
 // Sentinel errors for storage URL parsing.
 var (
-	ErrEmptyStorageURL   = errors.New("storage URL is empty")
+	ErrEmptyStorageURL  = errors.New("storage URL is empty")
-	ErrEmptyFilePath     = errors.New("file URL path is empty")
+	ErrEmptyFilePath    = errors.New("file URL path is empty")
+	ErrRelativeFilePath = errors.New(
+		"file URL needs an absolute path, as in file:///path/to/backup")
 	ErrMissingBucket     = errors.New("s3 URL missing bucket name")
 	ErrMissingRemote     = errors.New("rclone URL missing remote name")
 	ErrUnsupportedScheme = errors.New(
@@ -51,17 +53,8 @@ func ParseStorageURL(rawURL string) (*URL, error) {
 		return nil, ErrEmptyStorageURL
 	}
 
-	// Handle file:// URLs
 	if after, ok := strings.CutPrefix(rawURL, "file://"); ok {
-		path := after
+		return parseFileURL(after)
-		if path == "" {
-			return nil, ErrEmptyFilePath
-		}
-
-		return &URL{
-			Scheme: schemeFile,
-			Prefix: path,
-		}, nil
 	}
 
 	if strings.HasPrefix(rawURL, "s3://") {
@@ -75,6 +68,27 @@ func ParseStorageURL(rawURL string) (*URL, error) {
 	return nil, ErrUnsupportedScheme
 }
 
+// parseFileURL parses the path that follows file://. The path must be
+// absolute: a relative one would resolve against the working directory,
+// so the destination would move with it. Percent-escapes are decoded, so
+// my%20stick names the directory "my stick"; a literal space is kept.
+func parseFileURL(rawPath string) (*URL, error) {
+	if rawPath == "" {
+		return nil, ErrEmptyFilePath
+	}
+
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(rawPath, "/") {
+		return nil, ErrRelativeFilePath
+	}
+
+	path, err := url.PathUnescape(rawPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid file URL path: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &URL{Scheme: schemeFile, Prefix: path}, nil
+}
+
 // parseS3URL parses an s3://bucket/prefix URL. It rejects credentials in
 // the userinfo and any query parameter other than endpoint, region and
 // ssl, so a credential-bearing URL is never stored or echoed.

internal/storage/url_parse_test.go

@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ import (
 func TestParseStorageURLValid(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	const bucket = "mybucket"
+	const (
+		bucket     = "mybucket"
+		fileScheme = "file"
+	)
 
 	cases := []struct {
 		name string
@@ -24,7 +27,17 @@ func TestParseStorageURLValid(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "file absolute path",
 			raw:  "file:///var/backups/vaultik",
-			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: "file", Prefix: "/var/backups/vaultik"},
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: fileScheme, Prefix: "/var/backups/vaultik"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "file percent-escaped path is decoded",
+			raw:  "file:///Volumes/my%20stick/backup",
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: fileScheme, Prefix: "/Volumes/my stick/backup"},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "file path with a literal space",
+			raw:  "file:///Volumes/my stick/backup",
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: fileScheme, Prefix: "/Volumes/my stick/backup"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "s3 bucket and prefix, ssl defaults on",
@@ -90,6 +103,7 @@ func TestParseStorageURLErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"empty url", "", storage.ErrEmptyStorageURL},
 		{"file empty path", "file://", storage.ErrEmptyFilePath},
+		{"file relative path", "file://dest", storage.ErrRelativeFilePath},
 		{"s3 missing bucket", "s3://", storage.ErrMissingBucket},
 		{"s3 missing bucket with path", "s3:///justprefix", storage.ErrMissingBucket},
 		{"rclone missing remote", "rclone://", storage.ErrMissingRemote},

internal/vaultik/fault_injection_test.go

@@ -661,18 +661,17 @@ func faultScannerFactory(
 ) snapshot.ScannerFactory {
 	return func(params snapshot.ScannerParams) *snapshot.Scanner {
 		return snapshot.NewScanner(snapshot.ScannerConfig{
-			FS:                 params.Fs,
+			FS:               params.Fs,
-			Storage:            storer,
+			Storage:          storer,
-			ChunkSize:          faultChunkSize,
+			ChunkSize:        faultChunkSize,
-			MaxBlobSize:        faultMaxBlobSize,
+			MaxBlobSize:      faultMaxBlobSize,
-			CompressionLevel:   cfg.CompressionLevel,
+			CompressionLevel: cfg.CompressionLevel,
-			AgeRecipients:      cfg.AgeRecipients,
+			AgeRecipients:    cfg.AgeRecipients,
-			Repositories:       repos,
+			Repositories:     repos,
-			EnableProgress:     params.EnableProgress,
+			EnableProgress:   params.EnableProgress,
-			UI:                 params.UI,
+			UI:               params.UI,
-			Exclude:            params.Exclude,
+			Exclude:          params.Exclude,
-			SkipErrors:         params.SkipErrors,
+			SkipErrors:       params.SkipErrors,
-			PreviousSnapshotID: params.PreviousSnapshotID,
 		})
 	}
 }

internal/vaultik/info.go

@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ const (
 	// metadataKeyParts is the minimum "/"-separated segment count of a
 	// metadata object key (metadata/<snapshot-id>/<filename>).
 	metadataKeyParts = 3
+
+	// blobKeyParts is the minimum "/"-separated segment count of a blob
+	// object key (blobs/<aa>/<bb>/<hash>).
+	blobKeyParts = 4
 )
 
 // SnapshotMetadataInfo contains information about a single snapshot's metadata
@@ -450,16 +454,23 @@ func (v *Vaultik) scanRemoteBlobStorage(
 		v.stdoutf("Scanning blobs...\n")
 	}
 
-	// Use prune's listing, so a file under blobs/ that prune would never
+	blobCh := v.Storage.ListStream(v.ctx, "blobs/")
-	// delete is not counted as a blob, and so not as an orphaned one.
+	allBlobs := make(map[string]int64)
-	allBlobs, err := v.listAllRemoteBlobs()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 
-	for _, size := range allBlobs {
+	for obj := range blobCh {
+		if obj.Err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("listing blobs: %w", obj.Err)
+		}
+
+		parts := strings.Split(obj.Key, "/")
+		if len(parts) < blobKeyParts {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		hash := parts[3]
+		allBlobs[hash] = obj.Size
 		result.TotalBlobCount++
-		result.TotalBlobSize += size
+		result.TotalBlobSize += obj.Size
 	}
 
 	// A blob named only by a manifest that could not be read, or by one

internal/vaultik/prune.go

@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@ var errNukeRequiresForce = errors.New(
 // metadata.
 const metadataDirName = "metadata"
 
-// blobKeyParts is the "/"-separated segment count of a blob object key
-// (blobs/<aa>/<bb>/<hash>).
-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. After this returns successfully the bucket

internal/vaultik/remote_info_test.go

@@ -185,39 +185,6 @@ func TestRemoteInfo_SkipsNonConformingMetadataName(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, doc, "unreadable_manifests")
 }
 
-// TestRemoteInfo_DoesNotCountNonBlobFileUnderBlobs checks that a file
-// under blobs/ whose name is not a blob hash is not counted as a blob.
-// prune never deletes such a file, so counting it as an orphaned blob
-// would advise a prune that removes nothing.
-func TestRemoteInfo_DoesNotCountNonBlobFileUnderBlobs(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	env := newListEnv(t)
-	env.addRemote(t, listRemoteID, time.Date(2026, 3, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC))
-	addBlob(t, env.store.testStorer, testBlobHashA)
-	require.NoError(t, env.store.Put(context.Background(),
-		"blobs/"+testBlobHashA[:2]+"/"+testBlobHashA[2:4]+"/.DS_Store",
-		bytes.NewReader([]byte("junk"))))
-
-	require.NoError(t, env.v.RemoteInfo(false))
-
-	text := env.stdout.String()
-	assert.Contains(t, text, "Total blobs on remote:      1 (")
-	assert.Contains(t, text, "Orphaned (unreferenced):    0 (")
-	assert.NotContains(t, text, "vaultik prune")
-
-	env.stdout.Reset()
-	require.NoError(t, env.v.RemoteInfo(true))
-
-	var doc map[string]any
-
-	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(env.stdout.Bytes(), &doc))
-	assert.InDelta(t, 1, doc["total_blob_count"], 0)
-	assert.InDelta(t, 0, doc["orphaned_blob_count"], 0)
-	assert.InDelta(t, 0, doc["orphaned_blob_size"], 0)
-}
-
 // TestRemoteInfo_DirectoryWithoutManifestLeavesOrphansKnown checks that
 // a directory under metadata/ holding no manifest.json.zst, such as one
 // left by a backup interrupted before its manifest upload, leaves the

internal/vaultik/snapshot.go

@@ -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
@@ -149,7 +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)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -240,18 +214,12 @@ func (v *Vaultik) createNamedSnapshot(
 		return err
 	}
 
-	previousSnapshotID, err := v.previousSnapshotID(snapName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	scanner := v.ScannerFactory(snapshot.ScannerParams{
-		EnableProgress:     !opts.Cron,
+		EnableProgress: !opts.Cron,
-		UI:                 v.UI,
+		UI:             v.UI,
-		Fs:                 v.Fs,
+		Fs:             v.Fs,
-		Exclude:            v.Config.GetExcludes(snapName),
+		Exclude:        v.Config.GetExcludes(snapName),
-		SkipErrors:         opts.SkipErrors,
+		SkipErrors:     opts.SkipErrors,
-		PreviousSnapshotID: previousSnapshotID,
 	})
 
 	snapshotID, err := v.SnapshotManager.CreateSnapshotWithName(
@@ -286,24 +254,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) createNamedSnapshot(
 	return nil
 }
 
-// previousSnapshotID returns the ID of the most recent completed snapshot
-// named snapName in the local index, or "" when there is none.
-func (v *Vaultik) previousSnapshotID(snapName string) (string, error) {
-	snapshots, err := v.Repositories.Snapshots.ListRecent(v.ctx, listRecentLimit)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("listing snapshots: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	for _, s := range snapshots {
-		if s.CompletedAt != nil &&
-			parseSnapshotName(s.ID.String(), s.Hostname.String()) == snapName {
-			return s.ID.String(), nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	return "", nil
-}
-
 // resolveSnapshotPaths resolves source directories to absolute paths
 // with symlink resolution.
 func (v *Vaultik) resolveSnapshotPaths(snapName string) ([]string, error) {

internal/vaultik/snapshot_deleted_count_test.go

@@ -1,196 +0,0 @@
-package vaultik_test
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/spf13/afero"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/config"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/ui"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
-)
-
-// These tests cover https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/304: a
-// backup counts a file as deleted only when the previous snapshot of
-// the same name had it and it is gone, and never counts an excluded
-// file.
-
-// deletedCountEnv is a backup setup over the source directory src whose
-// user-facing output is kept in out. Each test configures its snapshots
-// with setSnapshot.
-type deletedCountEnv struct {
-	v   *vaultik.Vaultik
-	out *bytes.Buffer
-	src string
-}
-
-// newDeletedCountEnv writes files, keyed by path relative to src.
-func newDeletedCountEnv(t *testing.T, files map[string][]byte) *deletedCountEnv {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
-	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	srcDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-
-	for rel, content := range files {
-		path := filepath.Join(srcDir, rel)
-		require.NoError(t, fs.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755))
-		require.NoError(t, afero.WriteFile(fs, path, content, 0o644))
-	}
-
-	cfg := faultTestConfig()
-	cfg.IndexPath = filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
-	cfg.Snapshots = map[string]config.SnapshotConfig{}
-
-	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	db, err := database.New(ctx, cfg.IndexPath)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = db.Close() })
-
-	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
-	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	v := newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, fs)
-	v.UI = ui.NewWithColor(out, false)
-
-	return &deletedCountEnv{v: v, out: out, src: srcDir}
-}
-
-// setSnapshot configures the snapshot name to back up the path rel
-// beneath src, with the given excludes.
-func (e *deletedCountEnv) setSnapshot(name, rel string, exclude ...string) {
-	e.v.Config.Snapshots[name] = config.SnapshotConfig{
-		Paths:   []string{filepath.Join(e.src, rel)},
-		Exclude: exclude,
-	}
-}
-
-// backUp runs a backup of the named snapshot and returns its output.
-func (e *deletedCountEnv) backUp(t *testing.T, name string) string {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	e.out.Reset()
-	require.NoError(t, e.v.CreateSnapshot(&vaultik.SnapshotCreateOptions{
-		Snapshots: []string{name},
-	}))
-
-	return e.out.String()
-}
-
-// A file this snapshot excludes is not counted as deleted: neither one
-// that another snapshot backs up, nor one that the previous snapshot of
-// this name had before the exclude was added.
-func TestBackupDoesNotCountExcludedFileAsDeleted(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
-		"top.txt":       []byte("top"),
-		"cache/tmp.bin": []byte("cache"),
-		"photos/a.jpg":  []byte("photo a"),
-		"photos/b.jpg":  []byte("photo b"),
-		"photos/c.jpg":  []byte("photo c"),
-	})
-	env.setSnapshot("photos", "photos")
-	env.setSnapshot("home", "", "/photos")
-
-	env.backUp(t, "photos")
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(2, 2, 0))
-
-	env.setSnapshot("home", "", "/photos", "/cache")
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
-}
-
-// A file inside a directory that an exclude added after a backup
-// matches is not counted as deleted, though the pattern matches only the
-// directory.
-func TestBackupDoesNotCountFileInExcludedDirectoryAsDeleted(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
-		"top.txt":                 []byte("top"),
-		"app/node_modules/dep.js": []byte("dep"),
-	})
-	env.setSnapshot("home", "")
-
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(2, 2, 0))
-
-	env.setSnapshot("home", "", "**/node_modules")
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
-}
-
-// A backup counts only files that the previous snapshot of its own name
-// had, not one that a later snapshot of another name over the same path
-// had and that is since removed.
-func TestBackupIgnoresSnapshotOfAnotherName(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
-		"kept.txt": []byte("kept"),
-	})
-	env.setSnapshot("home", "")
-	env.setSnapshot("other", "")
-
-	env.backUp(t, "home")
-
-	// Snapshot start times are kept in whole seconds: wait so that other's
-	// snapshot is strictly the most recent.
-	time.Sleep(time.Second)
-
-	extra := filepath.Join(env.src, "extra.txt")
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(extra, []byte("extra"), 0o600))
-	env.backUp(t, "other")
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(extra))
-
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
-}
-
-// A file removed from disk is counted as deleted by the next backup of
-// the snapshot that had it, and not by any later backup of that
-// snapshot, nor by the first backup of another name over the same path.
-func TestBackupCountsDeletedFileOnce(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	aContent := bytes.Repeat([]byte("a"), 1000)
-	bContent := bytes.Repeat([]byte("b"), 2000)
-	keptContent := bytes.Repeat([]byte("k"), 500)
-
-	env := newDeletedCountEnv(t, map[string][]byte{
-		"a.txt":    aContent,
-		"b.txt":    bContent,
-		"kept.txt": keptContent,
-	})
-	env.setSnapshot("home", "")
-	env.setSnapshot("other", "")
-
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(3, 3, 0))
-
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(env.src, "a.txt")))
-	require.NoError(t, os.Remove(filepath.Join(env.src, "b.txt")))
-
-	summary := env.backUp(t, "home")
-	assert.Contains(t, summary,
-		"Files: 1 examined, 0 backed up, 1 unchanged, 2 deleted.")
-	assert.Contains(t, summary,
-		fmt.Sprintf("Data: %s total (%s backed up), %s deleted.",
-			env.v.UI.Size(int64(len(keptContent))), env.v.UI.Size(0),
-			env.v.UI.Size(int64(len(aContent)+len(bContent)))))
-
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "home"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
-	assert.Contains(t, env.backUp(t, "other"), filesLine(1, 0, 1))
-}