Make prune and remote nuke fail when a delete fails (closes #290)

prune, and the prune step of snapshot create --prune, counted a blob
it could not delete and still exited 0. It now prints its summary or
--json document and then returns an error, which replaces the
"Failed to delete N blob(s)" line.

remote nuke only warned when a snapshot's metadata could not be
deleted, advised vaultik prune, which never removes metadata, and then
reported the store empty. It now stops with an error, does not report
the store empty, and says to run vaultik remote nuke --force again. It
checks that the local index belongs to the configured destination
before deleting anything, and that error carries no such advice. A
successful nuke no longer advises prune.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -286,15 +286,13 @@ 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.
+  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
 and three sizes per snapshot (compressed remote size; total
-uncompressed chunk size; size of the chunks that snapshot stored that
-were not stored before, recorded when its backup ran).
+uncompressed chunk size; size of chunks newly referenced by that
+snapshot).
 
 Listing the destination store does **not** require the age secret key,
 so it works in vaultik's intended configuration, where the backed-up
@@ -307,8 +305,8 @@ only the hash, so hostname and snapshot name exist solely in the local
 index and in the encrypted per-snapshot database. Snapshots found only
 on the destination store are therefore listed as
 `<remote only:<abbreviated remote key>>` and show `<remote only>` in
-the uncompressed and "new chunk" columns, which come only from the
-local index. Their timestamp and compressed size are real,
+the uncompressed and "new chunk" columns, which can only be computed
+from the local index. Their timestamp and compressed size are real,
 read from the manifest.
 
 Snapshots in the local index with no counterpart on the destination
@@ -386,10 +384,12 @@ 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.
+manual entry point for the same work. If a blob cannot be deleted, the
+command (and `snapshot create --prune`) exits non-zero.
 * `--force`: Skip confirmation prompt
 * `--json`: Output stats as JSON. Also skips the confirmation prompt, as
-  `--force` does.
+  `--force` does. A blob that cannot be deleted is counted in
+  `blobs_failed`, and the document is printed before the non-zero exit.
 
 **`info`**: Display system configuration, storage settings, encryption
 recipients, and local database statistics.
@@ -403,15 +403,14 @@ 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
-under `blobs/` whose name is not a blob hash is not counted as a blob,
-since `prune` never deletes it.
+snapshot's blob count and blob size unknown, `null` in `--json`.
 * `--json`: Output as JSON
 
 **`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.
+destination store. If anything cannot be deleted, the command exits
+non-zero; running it again deletes what is left.
 * `--force`: Required to confirm destruction.
 
 **`database delete`**: Delete the local SQLite state database file
@@ -433,10 +432,7 @@ 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
-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.
+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`).

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
-  is not a blob as an orphaned blob
-  ([issue #295](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/295)). A stray
-  file such as `.DS_Store` was reported as an orphaned blob and the
-  report advised running `prune`, which skips such a file and deleted
-  nothing. `remote info` now takes its blob list from the same listing
-  `prune` uses, in the table and in `--json`.
+- 2026-10-13: Made `prune` and `remote nuke` exit non-zero when a delete
+  fails ([issue #290](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/290)).
+  `prune`, and the prune step of `snapshot create --prune`, counted a
+  blob it could not delete and still exited 0; it now prints its summary
+  or `--json` document and then fails. `remote nuke` warned about a
+  snapshot's metadata it could not delete, said to run `vaultik prune`,
+  which never removes metadata, and then reported the store empty. It
+  now fails without that report and says to run `vaultik remote nuke
+  --force` again, and a successful nuke no longer advises `prune` for
+  blobs it deletes itself.
 
 - 2026-10-13: Made `snapshot remove` fail for a snapshot that does not
   exist ([issue #293](https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/293)).

docs/DATAMODEL.md

@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ Tracks backup snapshots.
 - `completed_at` (INTEGER) - Completion timestamp (NULL if in progress)
 - `file_count` (INTEGER) - Number of files in snapshot
 - `chunk_count` (INTEGER) - Number of chunks this snapshot stored that were not stored before
-- `new_chunk_size` (INTEGER) - Total size of those chunks before compression; `snapshot list` shows it as NEW CHUNK SIZE
 - `blob_count` (INTEGER) - Number of blobs this snapshot created
 - `total_size` (INTEGER) - Total size of all files
 - `blob_size` (INTEGER) - Total compressed size of all referenced blobs

internal/blob/packer.go

@@ -245,17 +245,6 @@ 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

internal/cli/config.go

@@ -251,12 +251,6 @@ func NewConfigCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "config",
 		Short: "Manage the configuration file",
 		Long:  "Commands for creating, editing, and querying the vaultik config file.",
-		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
-		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
-		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
-		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
-			_ = cmd.Help()
-		},
 	}
 
 	cmd.AddCommand(newConfigInitCommand())

internal/cli/database.go

@@ -15,12 +15,6 @@ func NewDatabaseCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "database",
 		Short: "Manage the local state database",
 		Long:  `Commands for managing the local SQLite state database.`,
-		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
-		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
-		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
-		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
-			_ = cmd.Help()
-		},
 	}
 
 	cmd.AddCommand(

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/entry_unknown_subcommand_test.go

@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-package cli //nolint:testpackage // shares runEntry and the command-word constants
-
-import (
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-)
-
-// TestEntryGroupRejectsUnknownSubcommand runs each group command with a
-// mistyped subcommand, as a crontab line might carry one. It must fail
-// with exit 1 and name the word, as `vaultik bogus` does at the top
-// level, instead of printing the group's help and exiting 0 having done
-// nothing. The group name alone still prints its help.
-//
-//nolint:paralleltest // replaces os.Args, os.Stdout and os.Stderr
-func TestEntryGroupRejectsUnknownSubcommand(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, testCase := range []struct {
-		group    string
-		mistyped string
-	}{
-		{group: cmdSnapshot, mistyped: "craete"},
-		{group: "config", mistyped: "inti"},
-		{group: cmdRemote, mistyped: "ifno"},
-		{group: "database", mistyped: "delte"},
-		{group: "completion", mistyped: "nosuchshell"},
-	} {
-		t.Run(testCase.group, func(t *testing.T) {
-			code, stdout, stderr := runEntry(t,
-				testCase.group, testCase.mistyped)
-
-			assert.Equal(t, 1, code)
-			assert.Empty(t, stdout)
-			assert.Contains(t, stderr,
-				`unknown command "`+testCase.mistyped+`"`)
-
-			code, stdout, _ = runEntry(t, testCase.group)
-
-			assert.Equal(t, 0, code)
-			assert.Contains(t, stdout,
-				programName+" "+testCase.group+" [command]")
-		})
-	}
-}

internal/cli/remote.go

@@ -18,12 +18,6 @@ func NewRemoteCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "remote",
 		Short: "Remote storage management commands",
 		Long:  "Commands for inspecting and managing remote storage",
-		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
-		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
-		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
-		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
-			_ = cmd.Help()
-		},
 	}
 
 	// Add subcommands

internal/cli/root.go

@@ -74,21 +74,6 @@ on the source system.`,
 		NewDatabaseCommand(),
 	)
 
-	// cobra adds the completion command only when Execute runs, and with
-	// no Run, so it skipped its own cobra.NoArgs and a mistyped shell name
-	// printed help and exited 0. Adding it here lets it have a Run. Its
-	// scripts go to os.Stdout as it is now: a later SetOut does not
-	// redirect them.
-	cmd.InitDefaultCompletionCmd()
-
-	for _, sub := range cmd.Commands() {
-		if sub.Name() == "completion" {
-			sub.Run = func(completion *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
-				_ = completion.Help()
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
 	return cmd
 }
 

internal/cli/snapshot.go

@@ -41,12 +41,6 @@ func NewSnapshotCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "snapshot",
 		Short: "Snapshot management commands",
 		Long:  "Commands for creating, listing, and managing snapshots",
-		// cobra checks Args only on a command that has a Run: without
-		// one, a mistyped subcommand printed help and exited 0.
-		Args: cobra.NoArgs,
-		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
-			_ = cmd.Help()
-		},
 	}
 
 	// Add subcommands
@@ -77,11 +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.
@@ -108,13 +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

@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ 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")
@@ -464,18 +461,11 @@ 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. A file URL must name an absolute path: a relative one
-// would resolve against the working directory, so the destination would
-// move with it.
+// credential fields.
 func (c *Config) validateStorageURL() error {
 	switch {
 	case strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "file://"):
-		// storage.ParseStorageURL applies the same rule, but config
-		// cannot import storage, which imports config.
-		if !strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "file:///") {
-			return errFileURLNotAbsolute
-		}
-
+		// File storage doesn't need S3 credentials
 		return nil
 	case strings.HasPrefix(c.StorageURL, "rclone://"):
 		// Rclone storage uses rclone's own config

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -337,35 +337,6 @@ 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/schema/001.sql

@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS snapshots (
     completed_at INTEGER,
     file_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
     chunk_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-    new_chunk_size INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
     blob_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
     total_size INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
     blob_size INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,

internal/database/snapshots.go

@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ func (r *SnapshotRepository) UpdateExtendedStats(
 	compressionLevel int,
 	uploadBytes int64,
 	uploadDurationMs int64,
-	newChunkSize int64,
 ) error {
 	compressionRatio, err := r.extendedCompressionRatio(
 		ctx, tx, snapshotID, blobUncompressedSize,
@@ -144,19 +143,18 @@ func (r *SnapshotRepository) UpdateExtendedStats(
 		    compression_ratio = ?,
 		    compression_level = ?,
 		    upload_bytes = ?,
-		    upload_duration_ms = ?,
-		    new_chunk_size = ?
+		    upload_duration_ms = ?
 		WHERE id = ?
 	`
 
 	if tx != nil {
 		_, err = tx.ExecContext(ctx, query,
 			blobUncompressedSize, compressionRatio, compressionLevel,
-			uploadBytes, uploadDurationMs, newChunkSize, snapshotID)
+			uploadBytes, uploadDurationMs, snapshotID)
 	} else {
 		_, err = r.db.ExecWithLog(ctx, query,
 			blobUncompressedSize, compressionRatio, compressionLevel,
-			uploadBytes, uploadDurationMs, newChunkSize, snapshotID)
+			uploadBytes, uploadDurationMs, snapshotID)
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -596,24 +594,45 @@ func (r *SnapshotRepository) GetSnapshotUncompressedChunkSize(
 	return totalSize, nil
 }
 
-// GetSnapshotNewChunkSize returns the total plaintext size of the chunks the
-// snapshot's backup stored that were not stored before, as the backup
-// recorded it. It is not derived from the snapshot's files: a file's row is
-// shared by every snapshot that lists it and is rewritten when the file
-// changes, so it shows only the file's latest chunks.
+// GetSnapshotNewChunkSize returns the sum of plaintext sizes of chunks that are
+// referenced by this snapshot but not by any earlier completed snapshot known to
+// the local database. The result is the marginal uncompressed data this snapshot
+// added to the dedup pool — i.e., the delta from prior snapshots.
 func (r *SnapshotRepository) GetSnapshotNewChunkSize(
 	ctx context.Context, snapshotID string,
 ) (int64, error) {
-	query := `SELECT new_chunk_size FROM snapshots WHERE id = ?`
+	query := `
+		WITH this_snap_chunks AS (
+			SELECT DISTINCT fc.chunk_hash
+			FROM snapshot_files sf
+			JOIN file_chunks fc ON sf.file_id = fc.file_id
+			WHERE sf.snapshot_id = ?
+		),
+		prior_chunks AS (
+			SELECT DISTINCT fc.chunk_hash
+			FROM snapshots s
+			JOIN snapshot_files sf ON sf.snapshot_id = s.id
+			JOIN file_chunks fc ON fc.file_id = sf.file_id
+			WHERE s.completed_at IS NOT NULL
+			  AND s.id != ?
+			  AND s.started_at < (SELECT started_at FROM snapshots WHERE id = ?)
+		)
+		SELECT COALESCE(SUM(c.size), 0)
+		FROM chunks c
+		JOIN this_snap_chunks t ON c.chunk_hash = t.chunk_hash
+		WHERE c.chunk_hash NOT IN (SELECT chunk_hash FROM prior_chunks)
+	`
 
-	var newChunkSize int64
+	var totalSize int64
 
-	err := r.db.conn.QueryRowContext(ctx, query, snapshotID).Scan(&newChunkSize)
+	err := r.db.conn.QueryRowContext(
+		ctx, query, snapshotID, snapshotID, snapshotID,
+	).Scan(&totalSize)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("querying new chunk size: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	return newChunkSize, nil
+	return totalSize, nil
 }
 
 // GetIncompleteSnapshots returns all snapshots that haven't been completed

internal/snapshot/exclude_test.go

@@ -531,50 +531,3 @@ func TestExcludePatterns_UnanchoredPatternFile(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, 1, result.FilesScanned,
 		"Unanchored pattern for file should match anywhere")
 }
-
-func TestExcludePatterns_DoubleStarDirectoryAtEveryDepth(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	// As in gitignore, a leading **/ also matches directly under the source dir
-	fs := setupAnchoredTestFS(t)
-
-	scanner, repos, cleanup := createTestScanner(t, fs, []string{"**/projectname"})
-	defer cleanup()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	createSnapshotRecord(ctx, t, repos, "test-snapshot")
-
-	result, err := scanner.Scan(ctx, "/backup", "test-snapshot")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// **/projectname should exclude BOTH:
-	// - /backup/projectname/file.txt
-	// - /backup/otherproject/projectname/file.txt
-	// Total files: 4, excluded: 2
-	require.Equal(t, 2, result.FilesScanned,
-		"**/ directory pattern should match at the top level and nested")
-}
-
-func TestExcludePatterns_DoubleStarFileAtEveryDepth(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	// As in gitignore, a leading **/ also matches directly under the source dir
-	fs := setupAnchoredTestFS(t)
-
-	scanner, repos, cleanup := createTestScanner(t, fs, []string{"**/*.txt"})
-	defer cleanup()
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	createSnapshotRecord(ctx, t, repos, "test-snapshot")
-
-	result, err := scanner.Scan(ctx, "/backup", "test-snapshot")
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// **/*.txt should exclude ALL .txt files:
-	// - /backup/file.txt
-	// - /backup/projectname/file.txt
-	// - /backup/otherproject/projectname/file.txt
-	// Total files: 4, excluded: 3
-	require.Equal(t, 1, result.FilesScanned,
-		"**/ file pattern should match at the top level and nested")
-}

internal/snapshot/scanner.go

@@ -135,9 +135,7 @@ type ScannerConfig struct {
 // are counted per file: BytesScanned is the size of the new and changed
 // files, BytesSkipped that of the unchanged ones. FilesFailed counts the
 // new and changed files that phase 2 could not store; FilesScanned
-// includes them and BytesScanned does not. ChunksCreated counts the
-// chunks that were not already stored, and NewChunkSize is their total
-// size.
+// includes them and BytesScanned does not.
 type ScanResult struct {
 	FilesScanned   int
 	FilesSkipped   int
@@ -147,7 +145,6 @@ type ScanResult struct {
 	BytesSkipped   int64
 	BytesDeleted   int64
 	ChunksCreated  int
-	NewChunkSize   int64
 	BlobsCreated   int
 	BlobsUploaded  int
 	BytesUploaded  int64
@@ -1298,11 +1295,6 @@ 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 {
@@ -1869,12 +1861,11 @@ func (s *Scanner) processFileStreaming(
 	return nil
 }
 
-// updateChunkStats counts a chunk that was not already stored, and its
-// size. The scan result's file counts, BytesScanned and BytesSkipped are
-// not touched here: the scan phase counts each file once.
+// updateChunkStats counts a chunk that was not already stored. The scan
+// result's file counts, BytesScanned and BytesSkipped are not touched
+// here: the scan phase counts each file once.
 func (s *Scanner) updateChunkStats(chunkSize int64, result *ScanResult) {
 	result.ChunksCreated++
-	result.NewChunkSize += chunkSize
 
 	if s.progress != nil {
 		s.progress.GetStats().ChunksCreated.Add(1)
@@ -2022,14 +2013,6 @@ func compileExcludePatterns(patterns []string) []compiledPattern {
 		// Remove trailing slash if present (directory indicator)
 		pattern = strings.TrimSuffix(pattern, "/")
 
-		// A leading "**/" demands a "/" before the name and so misses an
-		// entry directly under the source path. An unanchored pattern
-		// already matches at every depth, so drop the prefix: as in
-		// gitignore, "**/x" then also matches a top-level "x".
-		if !anchored {
-			pattern = strings.TrimPrefix(pattern, "**/")
-		}
-
 		// Compile the glob pattern
 		// For patterns without path separators, we need to match them as components
 		// e.g., ".git" should match ".git" anywhere in the path

internal/snapshot/skip_errors_test.go

@@ -381,60 +381,3 @@ 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)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}

internal/snapshot/snapshot.go

@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@ func (sm *SnapshotManager) UpdateSnapshotStatsExtended(
 			stats.CompressionLevel,
 			stats.BytesUploaded,
 			stats.UploadDurationMs,
-			stats.NewChunkSize,
 		)
 	})
 }
@@ -907,7 +906,6 @@ type ExtendedBackupStats struct {
 	BlobUncompressedSize int64 // Total uncompressed size of all referenced blobs
 	CompressionLevel     int   // Compression level used for this snapshot
 	UploadDurationMs     int64 // Total milliseconds spent uploading to S3
-	NewChunkSize         int64 // Total size of the chunks counted in ChunksCreated
 }
 
 // deleteOtherSnapshots deletes all snapshots except the current one

internal/storage/faultstore/faultstore.go

@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 // Package faultstore provides a storage.Storer wrapper that injects
 // faults on demand, so tests can reproduce the failure modes a real
 // backend exhibits: an upload that fails partway, a backend that reports
-// success while storing nothing, and reads that return corrupt or
-// truncated bytes. It is the seam called for by the fault-injection
-// tests (sneak/vaultik issue 72) and is meant to be reused by future
-// tests rather than re-implemented per case.
+// success while storing nothing, reads that return corrupt or truncated
+// bytes, and a delete the backend refuses. It is the seam called for by
+// the fault-injection tests (sneak/vaultik issue 72) and is meant to be
+// reused by future tests rather than re-implemented per case.
 //
-// The wrapper delegates every method to the inner Storer. Two hooks
-// change that: OnPut decides the fate of each write, and OnGet decides
-// how each read's bytes are returned. Both are keyed by the object key,
-// so a test can fault only blobs, only metadata, or a single object.
+// The wrapper delegates every method to the inner Storer. Three hooks
+// change that: OnPut decides the fate of each write, OnGet decides how
+// each read's bytes are returned, and OnDelete decides whether each
+// delete fails. All are keyed by the object key, so a test can fault
+// only blobs, only metadata, or a single object.
 package faultstore
 
 import (
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@ import (
 // ErrInjectedUpload is returned by a Put the OnPut hook chose to fail.
 var ErrInjectedUpload = errors.New("faultstore: injected upload failure")
 
+// ErrInjectedDelete is returned by a Delete the OnDelete hook chose to
+// fail.
+var ErrInjectedDelete = errors.New("faultstore: injected delete failure")
+
 // PutAction is the disposition OnPut assigns to a write.
 type PutAction int
 
@@ -66,6 +71,11 @@ type Storer struct {
 	// OnGet, when set, is consulted for every Get with the object key
 	// and damages the returned bytes accordingly.
 	OnGet func(key string) GetFault
+
+	// OnDelete, when set, is consulted before every Delete with the
+	// object key. Returning true fails the delete and leaves the object
+	// in place.
+	OnDelete func(key string) bool
 }
 
 // New wraps inner. inner must be non-nil.
@@ -154,8 +164,12 @@ func (f *Storer) Stat(ctx context.Context, key string) (*storage.ObjectInfo, err
 	return f.inner.Stat(ctx, key)
 }
 
-// Delete delegates unchanged.
+// Delete removes the object unless OnDelete fails the delete.
 func (f *Storer) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
+	if f.OnDelete != nil && f.OnDelete(key) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w for %q", ErrInjectedDelete, key)
+	}
+
 	return f.inner.Delete(ctx, key)
 }
 

internal/storage/url.go

@@ -17,10 +17,8 @@ const (
 
 // Sentinel errors for storage URL parsing.
 var (
-	ErrEmptyStorageURL  = errors.New("storage URL 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")
+	ErrEmptyStorageURL   = errors.New("storage URL is empty")
+	ErrEmptyFilePath     = errors.New("file URL path is empty")
 	ErrMissingBucket     = errors.New("s3 URL missing bucket name")
 	ErrMissingRemote     = errors.New("rclone URL missing remote name")
 	ErrUnsupportedScheme = errors.New(
@@ -53,8 +51,17 @@ func ParseStorageURL(rawURL string) (*URL, error) {
 		return nil, ErrEmptyStorageURL
 	}
 
+	// Handle file:// URLs
 	if after, ok := strings.CutPrefix(rawURL, "file://"); ok {
-		return parseFileURL(after)
+		path := after
+		if path == "" {
+			return nil, ErrEmptyFilePath
+		}
+
+		return &URL{
+			Scheme: schemeFile,
+			Prefix: path,
+		}, nil
 	}
 
 	if strings.HasPrefix(rawURL, "s3://") {
@@ -68,27 +75,6 @@ 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

@@ -14,10 +14,7 @@ import (
 func TestParseStorageURLValid(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	const (
-		bucket     = "mybucket"
-		fileScheme = "file"
-	)
+	const bucket = "mybucket"
 
 	cases := []struct {
 		name string
@@ -27,17 +24,7 @@ func TestParseStorageURLValid(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name: "file absolute path",
 			raw:  "file:///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"},
+			want: &storage.URL{Scheme: "file", Prefix: "/var/backups/vaultik"},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "s3 bucket and prefix, ssl defaults on",
@@ -103,7 +90,6 @@ 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/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
-	// delete is not counted as a blob, and so not as an orphaned one.
-	allBlobs, err := v.listAllRemoteBlobs()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	blobCh := v.Storage.ListStream(v.ctx, "blobs/")
+	allBlobs := make(map[string]int64)
 
-	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/new_chunk_size_test.go

@@ -1,133 +0,0 @@
-package vaultik_test
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"maps"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/spf13/afero"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/chunker"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/database"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage"
-	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
-)
-
-// TestNewChunkSizeOfChangedFileStaysFixed covers
-// https://git.eeqj.de/sneak/vaultik/issues/311. A backup whose only change
-// is a modified file lists the size of the chunks that change added as its
-// NEW CHUNK SIZE, and a later backup that changes the file again leaves
-// every earlier snapshot's figure as it was. The file's row in the local
-// index is shared by all three snapshots and rewritten by each backup.
-func TestNewChunkSizeOfChangedFileStaysFixed(t *testing.T) {
-	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	fs := afero.NewOsFs()
-	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	dataDir := filepath.Join(tempDir, "src")
-	dbPath := filepath.Join(tempDir, "index.sqlite")
-	changedPath := filepath.Join(dataDir, "changed.bin")
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	files := writeFaultSourceTree(t, fs, dataDir)
-	cfg := changedFileConfig(dataDir, dbPath)
-
-	appendRandomBytes(t, fs, files, changedPath, appendedFileSize)
-
-	store, err := storage.NewFileStorer(filepath.Join(tempDir, "remote"))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	db, err := database.New(ctx, dbPath)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = db.Close() })
-
-	repos := database.NewRepositories(db)
-	v := newBackupVaultik(ctx, cfg, store, repos, db, fs)
-
-	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "first"))
-
-	firstFiles := maps.Clone(files)
-	firstID := localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, "first")
-
-	appendRandomBytes(t, fs, files, changedPath, faultChunkSize)
-	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "second"))
-
-	secondID := localSnapshotID(ctx, t, repos, "second")
-	secondAdded := sizeOfNewChunks(t, files, firstFiles)
-	require.Positive(t, secondAdded)
-	assert.Equal(t, secondAdded, listedNewChunkSizes(t, v)[secondID],
-		"the second snapshot must count the chunks the change added")
-
-	appendRandomBytes(t, fs, files, changedPath, faultChunkSize)
-	require.NoError(t, backUp(v, "third"))
-
-	sizes := listedNewChunkSizes(t, v)
-	assert.Equal(t, sizeOfNewChunks(t, firstFiles, nil), sizes[firstID],
-		"a later backup must not change the first snapshot's figure")
-	assert.Equal(t, secondAdded, sizes[secondID],
-		"a later backup must not change the second snapshot's figure")
-}
-
-// sizeOfNewChunks returns the total size of the distinct chunks of the
-// files in after that no file in before has, cut the way the backup cuts
-// them.
-func sizeOfNewChunks(t *testing.T, after, before map[string][]byte) int64 {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	known := make(map[string]bool)
-	for _, chunk := range chunksOf(t, before) {
-		known[chunk.Hash] = true
-	}
-
-	var total int64
-
-	for _, chunk := range chunksOf(t, after) {
-		if !known[chunk.Hash] {
-			known[chunk.Hash] = true
-			total += chunk.Size
-		}
-	}
-
-	return total
-}
-
-// chunksOf returns the chunks of every file in files.
-func chunksOf(t *testing.T, files map[string][]byte) []chunker.Chunk {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	c := chunker.NewChunker(faultChunkSize)
-
-	var all []chunker.Chunk
-
-	for _, content := range files {
-		chunks, err := c.ChunkReader(bytes.NewReader(content))
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		all = append(all, chunks...)
-	}
-
-	return all
-}
-
-// listedNewChunkSizes runs `snapshot list --json` and returns each listed
-// snapshot's new_chunk_size by snapshot ID.
-func listedNewChunkSizes(t *testing.T, v *vaultik.Vaultik) map[string]int64 {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	var out bytes.Buffer
-
-	v.Stdout = &out
-	require.NoError(t, v.ListSnapshots(true))
-
-	sizes := make(map[string]int64)
-	for _, row := range decodeListJSON(t, out.String()) {
-		sizes[row.ID] = row.NewChunkSize
-	}
-
-	return sizes
-}

internal/vaultik/nuke_remote_test.go

@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/snapshot"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage/faultstore"
 )
 
 // TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles checks that remote nuke leaves no file
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ func TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
-	v, repos, _ := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+	v, repos, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
 
 	snapshots, err := repos.Snapshots.ListRecent(ctx, listRecentTestLimit)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -61,4 +63,82 @@ func TestNukeRemoteLeavesNoFiles(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Empty(t, files)
+
+	// Nuke deletes the blobs itself, so advice to run prune is wrong.
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "Backup destination store is now empty.")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "vaultik prune")
+}
+
+// TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenADeleteFails checks that remote nuke returns an
+// error when a snapshot's metadata or a blob cannot be deleted, does not
+// report the store empty, and advises running nuke again: prune deletes
+// no metadata.
+func TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenADeleteFails(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, refusedPrefix := range []string{"metadata/", "blobs/"} {
+		t.Run(refusedPrefix, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+			v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+			store := faultstore.New(v.Storage)
+			store.OnDelete = func(key string) bool {
+				return strings.HasPrefix(key, refusedPrefix)
+			}
+			v.Storage = store
+
+			require.Error(t, v.NukeRemote(true))
+
+			assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "now empty")
+			assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "vaultik remote nuke --force")
+			assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "vaultik prune")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNukeRemoteRefusesAnotherDestinationWithoutRetryAdvice checks that
+// remote nuke, when the local index belongs to a different destination
+// than the configured one, fails without advising to run nuke again:
+// that run would fail the same way.
+func TestNukeRemoteRefusesAnotherDestinationWithoutRetryAdvice(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+	v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+	v.Config.StorageURL = "file://" + filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "elsewhere")
+
+	err := v.NukeRemote(true)
+
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "bound to a different backup destination")
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "vaultik remote nuke --force")
+}
+
+// TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenALocalSnapshotCannotBeRemoved checks that a
+// snapshot remote nuke cannot remove from the local index fails the
+// run: nuke then leaves that snapshot's metadata on the destination
+// store.
+func TestNukeRemoteFailsWhenALocalSnapshotCannotBeRemoved(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+	v, _, out := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+	_, err := v.DB.Conn().ExecContext(ctx, `
+		CREATE TRIGGER refuse_snapshot_delete BEFORE DELETE ON snapshots
+		BEGIN SELECT RAISE(ABORT, 'simulated index error'); END`)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.Error(t, v.NukeRemote(true))
+
+	assert.NotContains(t, out.String(), "now empty")
+	assert.Contains(t, out.String(), "vaultik remote nuke --force")
 }

internal/vaultik/prune.go

@@ -19,14 +19,18 @@ type PruneOptions struct {
 var errNukeRequiresForce = errors.New(
 	"nuke requires --force (this deletes ALL remote snapshots and blobs)")
 
+// errBlobDeleteFailed reports unreferenced blobs prune could not delete.
+var errBlobDeleteFailed = errors.New("blob(s) could not be deleted")
+
+// nukeCommandHint is the command suggested when a remote nuke could not
+// delete everything: running it again deletes what is left, which
+// `vaultik prune` does not do for snapshot metadata.
+const nukeCommandHint = "vaultik remote nuke --force"
+
 // metadataDirName is the top-level remote directory holding snapshot
 // 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
@@ -39,6 +43,29 @@ func (v *Vaultik) NukeRemote(force bool) error {
 		return errNukeRequiresForce
 	}
 
+	// Checked before anything is deleted: running nuke again would fail
+	// the same way, so the advice below must not follow this error.
+	err := v.EnsureStorageBinding()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = v.emptyDestinationStore()
+	if err != nil {
+		v.UI.Warningf("Run '%s' again to delete what is left on the "+
+			"backup destination store.", nukeCommandHint)
+
+		return err
+	}
+
+	v.UI.Completef("Backup destination store is now empty.")
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// emptyDestinationStore does the deleting for NukeRemote and stops at
+// the first step that fails.
+func (v *Vaultik) emptyDestinationStore() error {
 	v.UI.Beginf("Removing all snapshot metadata from backup destination store.")
 
 	_, err := v.RemoveAllSnapshots(&RemoveOptions{Force: true})
@@ -62,8 +89,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) NukeRemote(force bool) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	v.UI.Completef("Backup destination store is now empty.")
-
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -166,14 +191,17 @@ func (v *Vaultik) PruneBlobs(opts *PruneOptions) error {
 	v.deleteUnreferencedBlobs(unreferencedBlobs, allBlobs, result)
 
 	if opts.JSON {
-		return v.outputPruneBlobsJSON(result)
+		err = v.outputPruneBlobsJSON(result)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	} else {
+		v.stdoutf("\nDeleted %d blob(s) totaling %s\n",
+			result.BlobsDeleted, ubytes(result.BytesFreed))
 	}
 
-	v.stdoutf("\nDeleted %d blob(s) totaling %s\n",
-		result.BlobsDeleted, ubytes(result.BytesFreed))
-
 	if result.BlobsFailed > 0 {
-		v.stdoutf("Failed to delete %d blob(s)\n", result.BlobsFailed)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%d %w", result.BlobsFailed, errBlobDeleteFailed)
 	}
 
 	return nil

internal/vaultik/prune_delete_failure_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package vaultik_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/log"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/storage/faultstore"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/vaultik/internal/vaultik"
+)
+
+// refuseBlobDeletes is an OnDelete hook that fails every blob delete.
+func refuseBlobDeletes(key string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(key, "blobs/")
+}
+
+// TestPruneBlobs_FailedDeleteReturnsError checks that prune returns an
+// error, so the command exits non-zero, when an unreferenced blob cannot
+// be deleted.
+func TestPruneBlobs_FailedDeleteReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newListEnv(t)
+
+	// The store holds no manifest, so nothing references this blob.
+	addBlob(t, env.store.testStorer, testBlobHashA)
+
+	store := faultstore.New(env.store)
+	store.OnDelete = refuseBlobDeletes
+	env.v.Storage = store
+
+	err := env.v.PruneBlobs(&vaultik.PruneOptions{Force: true})
+
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "1 blob(s) could not be deleted")
+}
+
+// TestPruneBlobs_JSONFailedDeleteReturnsError checks that prune --json
+// prints its document and then returns an error when an unreferenced
+// blob cannot be deleted.
+func TestPruneBlobs_JSONFailedDeleteReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	env := newListEnv(t)
+	addBlob(t, env.store.testStorer, testBlobHashA)
+
+	store := faultstore.New(env.store)
+	store.OnDelete = refuseBlobDeletes
+	env.v.Storage = store
+
+	err := env.v.PruneBlobs(&vaultik.PruneOptions{JSON: true})
+
+	require.Error(t, err, "prune must fail when a blob cannot be deleted")
+
+	var result vaultik.PruneBlobsResult
+
+	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(env.stdout.Bytes(), &result),
+		"stdout must hold the JSON document, got:\n%s", env.stdout.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, result.BlobsFailed)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, result.BlobsDeleted)
+}
+
+// TestCreateSnapshotPrune_FailedBlobDeleteReturnsError checks that the
+// prune step of snapshot create --prune fails the run when an
+// unreferenced blob cannot be deleted.
+func TestCreateSnapshotPrune_FailedBlobDeleteReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	log.Initialize(log.Config{})
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	storeDir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "store")
+	v, _, _ := backUpToFileDestination(ctx, t, storeDir)
+
+	// No snapshot references this blob, so the prune step deletes it.
+	orphan := filepath.Join(storeDir, "blobs", testBlobHashA[:2],
+		testBlobHashA[2:4], testBlobHashA)
+	require.NoError(t, os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(orphan), 0o750))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(orphan, []byte("orphan"), 0o600))
+
+	store := faultstore.New(v.Storage)
+	store.OnDelete = refuseBlobDeletes
+	v.Storage = store
+
+	err := v.CreateSnapshot(&vaultik.SnapshotCreateOptions{
+		Cron:  true,
+		Prune: true,
+	})
+
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "1 blob(s) could not be deleted")
+	assert.FileExists(t, orphan)
+}

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/remove_snapshot_test.go

@@ -476,7 +476,8 @@ func TestRemoveAllSnapshots_WithForce(t *testing.T) {
 	out := tv.Stdout.String()
 	assert.Contains(t, out, "Removed 2 snapshot(s)")
 	assert.Contains(t, out, "Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-	assert.Contains(t, out, "vaultik prune")
+	// Remote nuke, the only caller, deletes the blobs next itself.
+	assert.NotContains(t, out, "vaultik prune")
 }
 
 func TestRemoveAllSnapshots_DryRun(t *testing.T) {

internal/vaultik/snapshot.go

@@ -24,18 +24,13 @@ var (
 	errSnapshotVerifyFailed = errors.New("verification failed")
 	errRemoveAllNeedsForce  = errors.New("--all requires --force")
 	errSnapshotNotFound     = errors.New("snapshot not found")
+	errSnapshotRemoveFailed = errors.New("snapshot(s) could not be removed")
 	errInvalidTableName     = errors.New("invalid table name")
 	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 +46,6 @@ 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 +124,7 @@ 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)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -209,7 +184,6 @@ type snapshotStats struct {
 	totalFiles         int
 	totalBytes         int64
 	totalChunks        int
-	newChunkSize       int64
 	totalBlobs         int
 	totalBytesSkipped  int64
 	totalFilesSkipped  int
@@ -342,7 +316,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) scanAllDirectories(
 		stats.totalFiles += result.FilesScanned
 		stats.totalBytes += result.BytesScanned
 		stats.totalChunks += result.ChunksCreated
-		stats.newChunkSize += result.NewChunkSize
 		stats.totalBlobs += result.BlobsCreated
 		stats.totalFilesSkipped += result.FilesSkipped
 		stats.totalFilesFailed += result.FilesFailed
@@ -405,7 +378,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) finalizeSnapshotMetadata(
 		BlobUncompressedSize: stats.blobUncompressedSize,
 		CompressionLevel:     v.Config.CompressionLevel,
 		UploadDurationMs:     stats.uploadDuration.Milliseconds(),
-		NewChunkSize:         stats.newChunkSize,
 	}
 
 	err = v.SnapshotManager.UpdateSnapshotStatsExtended(v.ctx, snapshotID, extStats)
@@ -1542,8 +1514,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) handleRemoveAllDryRun(
 
 // executeRemoveAll deletes every local snapshot and, unless LocalOnly
 // is set, every corresponding remote metadata directory plus any
-// orphan remote keys. Blobs are not touched; the printed prune-command
-// hint is the next step.
+// orphan remote keys. Blobs are not touched. It returns an error when
+// any snapshot could not be removed.
 func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 	localSnaps, orphanRemoteKeys []string, opts *RemoveOptions,
 ) (*RemoveResult, error) {
@@ -1557,18 +1529,11 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 
 	result := &RemoveResult{}
 
-	remoteErrors := v.removeAllLocalSnapshots(localSnaps, opts, result)
+	failures := v.removeAllLocalSnapshots(localSnaps, opts, result)
 
 	if !opts.LocalOnly {
-		remoteErrors += v.removeAllOrphanRemotes(orphanRemoteKeys, result)
-
-		if remoteErrors == 0 {
-			result.RemoteRemoved = true
-		} else if v.UI != nil {
-			v.UI.Warningf("Some remote metadata deletions failed. Run '%s' "+
-				"once the remote is healthy to clean up unreferenced blobs.",
-				pruneCommandHint)
-		}
+		failures += v.removeAllOrphanRemotes(orphanRemoteKeys, result)
+		result.RemoteRemoved = failures == 0
 	}
 
 	if v.SnapshotManager != nil {
@@ -1578,6 +1543,10 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 		}
 	}
 
+	if failures > 0 {
+		return result, fmt.Errorf("%d %w", failures, errSnapshotRemoveFailed)
+	}
+
 	if opts.JSON {
 		return result, v.outputRemoveJSON(result)
 	}
@@ -1586,9 +1555,6 @@ func (v *Vaultik) executeRemoveAll(
 
 	if !opts.LocalOnly && result.RemoteRemoved {
 		v.printlnStdout("Removed snapshot metadata from remote storage")
-		v.stdoutf("\nNote: Removed snapshots' blobs remain on the remote. "+
-			"Run '%s' to delete any blobs no longer referenced by any "+
-			"remaining remote snapshot.\n", pruneCommandHint)
 	}
 
 	return result, nil
@@ -1631,12 +1597,13 @@ func (v *Vaultik) deleteIncompleteSnapshot(snapshotIDStr string, id any) bool {
 }
 
 // removeAllLocalSnapshots removes each known local snapshot (and, unless
-// --local-only, its remote metadata), returning the number of remote
-// deletion failures.
+// --local-only, its remote metadata), returning the number of snapshots
+// it could not remove. A snapshot left in the local index keeps its
+// remote metadata too, since it is not an orphan remote key.
 func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 	localSnaps []string, opts *RemoveOptions, result *RemoveResult,
 ) int {
-	remoteErrors := 0
+	failures := 0
 
 	for _, snapshotID := range localSnaps {
 		log.Info("Removing snapshot", "snapshot_id", snapshotID)
@@ -1646,6 +1613,8 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 			log.Error("Failed to remove from local database",
 				"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)
 
+			failures++
+
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -1656,14 +1625,14 @@ func (v *Vaultik) removeAllLocalSnapshots(
 				log.Warn("Failed to remove snapshot metadata from remote",
 					"snapshot_id", snapshotID, "error", err)
 
-				remoteErrors++
+				failures++
 			}
 		}
 
 		result.SnapshotsRemoved = append(result.SnapshotsRemoved, snapshotID)
 	}
 
-	return remoteErrors
+	return failures
 }
 
 // removeAllOrphanRemotes deletes remote snapshot metadata that has no

internal/vaultik/snapshot_list_test.go

@@ -445,7 +445,6 @@ type listJSONRow struct {
 	RemoteKey      string `json:"remote_key"`
 	Timestamp      string `json:"timestamp"`
 	CompressedSize int64  `json:"compressed_size"`
-	NewChunkSize   int64  `json:"new_chunk_size"`
 	LocallyTracked bool   `json:"locally_tracked"`
 	RemotePresent  *bool  `json:"remote_present"`
 }