snapper

Snapper is a command line tool used in Linux systems to manage and interact with the Linux file system snapshots made with the Btrfs file system. It enables users to create, delete, manage, and restore snapshots, which are point-in-time copies of the file system's state.

Snapper provides a user-friendly interface for managing these snapshots, showing the differences between snapshots, visually representing changes, and allowing users to rollback to a previous snapshot if needed.

The tool uses a COW (Copy-On-Write) algorithm, which means that taking a snapshot does not create a full copy of the file system but rather records the differences between the current state and the snapshot. This efficient approach allows for minimal storage usage and quick creation of snapshots.

Snapper also supports creating timeline views, which provide a comprehensive overview of the file system's history and allow users to navigate through different snapshots easily. It enables users to compare snapshots, revert changes, and undo unwanted modifications or even roll back the entire file system to a specific snapshot.

Moreover, Snapper integrates with various system utilities and tools, including GRUB, YaST, and Zypper. This integration enables seamless integration of snapshot management with system updates, package management, and system recovery.

Overall, Snapper simplifies the management of file system snapshots in Linux systems, providing a powerful and user-friendly tool for ensuring data integrity, system recovery, and efficient storage usage.