A Bash or Python script that backs up your MySQL or PostgreSQL database and keeps only the copies you choose

Example result

python merge_sales.py --month 2026-10

2026-11-02 09:14:03 INFO  Folder: sales/2026-10, 9 files found
2026-11-02 09:14:03 INFO  shop-01.csv: 1,284 rows
2026-11-02 09:14:04 INFO  shop-02.xlsx: 967 rows
2026-11-02 09:14:04 WARN  shop-07.csv: 3 rows without a price skipped (lines 88, 412, 913)
2026-11-02 09:14:05 INFO  Done: 10,412 rows -> report-2026-10.xlsx (sheets "Sales" and "Totals")

[columns]
date = Date, Sale date, Day
product = Product, Item, Name
quantity = Qty, Quantity, Pcs
price = Price, Unit price

def read_shop_file(path: Path, columns: dict[str, list[str]]) -> pd.DataFrame:
    """Reads one shop's file and gives it the report's column names."""
    table = pd.read_excel(path) if path.suffix == ".xlsx" else pd.read_csv(path, encoding="utf-8-sig")
    renamed = {}
    for name, variants in columns.items():
        found = next((c for c in table.columns if c.strip() in variants), None)
        if found is None:
            raise ReportError(f"{path.name}: no column for '{name}' (looked for {', '.join(variants)})")
        renamed[found] = name
    table = table.rename(columns=renamed)[list(columns)]
    table["shop"] = path.stem
    return table

About this service

A database without regular copies is one bad update or full disk away from losing orders, posts or customer records. This script, in Bash or Python as suits your server, makes a full dump of your MySQL, MariaDB or PostgreSQL database with the tools that come with it (mysqldump or pg_dump), compresses it, names it with the date and keeps only the copies your rules say, for example 7 daily, 4 weekly and 6 monthly; older ones are removed only by those rules. The database password goes into the standard option file you fill in on your server (.my.cnf or .pgpass), never into the code. You install and run it on your own server; we never log in to it. Try it on a test copy first, and restore one backup into a test database to make sure it works.

What is included

• What you getA ZIP archive with the script, a README with step-by-step instructions and, from Standard, a settings file with databases, folders and how many copies to keep; the code is also shown on the order page.
• Standard toolsmysqldump or pg_dump, nothing exotic to install
• Rotation by your rulesOld copies removed only as you set
• Password out of the codeIn .my.cnf or .pgpass on your server
• Failures noticedFrom Standard, a failed or empty dump is logged and not counted as a copy
• Readable codeWith comments, easy to add a database later

How it works

1. 1
   TaskYou describe the server, the databases and how many copies to keep
2. 2
   CodeWe write the script and the guide to installing it
3. 3
   Try itYou run it on a test copy and restore one backup into a test database
4. 4
   ChangesYou ask for changes within your package and send any error message

What we need from you

The database (MySQL, MariaDB or PostgreSQL) and its version, the server's system (for example Ubuntu 22.04) and whether you can install packages there, how big the database is, where the copies should be stored and how much space there is. Your rotation rules: how many daily, weekly and monthly copies to keep. For Premium, the second place for copies and the address for failure emails. Never send passwords or server access.

We will ask you:

• Which database, and how big is it?
• What server is it on?
• How many copies to keep?
• Where should copies go?
• Bash or Python?

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Questions and answers

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