Backup Now

Community

davekilleen

backup-now

Run a vault backup right now and report the verified result. Use when the user says 'back up now', 'take a backup before I do this', or is about to make a big change. Not for scheduling or changing where backups go (`backup-setup`); not for getting files back (`backup-restore`).

Overview

Publisher	davekilleen
Repository	`Dex`
Skill name	`backup-now`
Stars	481
Forks	130
Bundled files	Instructions only
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by davekilleen on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Backup Now AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/davekilleen/Dex/tree/main/packages/dex-agent-plugin/skills/backup-now

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/davekilleen/Dex.git /tmp/Dex
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/Dex/packages/dex-agent-plugin/skills/backup-now .claude/skills/backup-now

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Backup Now in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Backup Now on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Backup Now is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Backup Now

Take an immediate backup of the vault, on top of whatever the schedule is doing. Worth suggesting before anything sweeping: a bulk edit, a big reorganisation, a system update, or a migration.

Run it

bash
python3 core/backup/backup_vault.py

It takes well under a minute for a typical vault. The command handles archiving, verifying, storing, and pruning old copies in one pass.

If backups have never been configured, the run will fail with a clear message; offer /backup-setup rather than improvising a destination.

Report honestly

Read System/.dex/backup-last-run.json and report what actually happened, not what was attempted:

On success: the set name, total size, where it went, and how many older sets were pruned. Say plainly that the version history in the set was verified as complete.
On failure: the recorded error, verbatim. Do not soften it and do not claim a backup exists. Common causes worth naming: the destination folder is missing or not mounted, a cloud remote is not reachable, or the disk is full.

Never infer success from the command finishing. The run record is the evidence.

If it has not run in a while

If the previous successful run was more than two days before this one, mention it once, quietly and without alarm, and offer /backup-setup to check the schedule. A silent scheduling failure is the most common way backups die.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Backup Now AI skill do?

Why use Backup Now on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Backup Now is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Backup Now in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/davekilleen/Dex/tree/main/packages/dex-agent-plugin/skills/backup-now. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Backup Now?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Backup Now?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Backup Now with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Backup Now AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by davekilleen. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Backup Now

Run it

Report honestly

If it has not run in a while

Frequently asked questions

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