# Backup & Restore

Synapse provides full export/import for memory backup, migration, and disaster
recovery. This guide covers the essential operations.

## Export

### Full Mind Export

Export all memories in a mind as JSON:

```bash
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \
     https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/mind-export > backup.json
```

Response format:

```json
{
  "mind_id": "m_xyz789",
  "mind_name": "Work Mind",
  "exported_at": "2026-06-27T...",
  "memory_count": 142,
  "memories": [
    {
      "id": "mem_001",
      "category": "identity",
      "key": "user_name",
      "content": "Michael Schäfer",
      "tags": ["person", "identity"],
      "priority": "critical",
      "source": "user",
      "verified": true,
      "created_at": "2026-06-15T...",
      "updated_at": "2026-06-27T..."
    }
  ]
}
```

### Incremental Export (Diff)

Export only memories changed since a timestamp:

```bash
SINCE=$(date -d "2026-06-01" +%s)
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \
     "https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/diff?since=$SINCE" > incremental.json
```

Response:

```json
{
  "added": [...],
  "updated": [...],
  "deleted": [...]
}
```

### Automated Backups

Schedule daily backups via cron:

```bash
curl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/cron \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "schedule": "0 2 * * *",
    "endpoint": "https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/mind-export",
    "method": "GET",
    "headers": {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY"}
  }'
```

> [!NOTE]
> The cron endpoint receives the response but doesn't store it. For real
> backups, point the cron at your own backup server that saves the response.

### Better: External Backup Script

```bash
#!/bin/bash
# backup-synapse.sh
MIND_KEY="${SYNAPSE_MIND_KEY}"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d)
BACKUP_DIR="/backups/synapse"

mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $MIND_KEY" \
     https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/mind-export \
     > "$BACKUP_DIR/synapse-$DATE.json"

# Keep last 30 days
find "$BACKUP_DIR" -name "synapse-*.json" -mtime +30 -delete

echo "Backup saved: $BACKUP_DIR/synapse-$DATE.json"
```

Add to crontab:

```cron
0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup-synapse.sh
```

## Restore

### Restore to Same Mind

```bash
# Parse backup and re-POST each memory
jq -c '.memories[]' backup.json | while read mem; do
  curl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_MIND_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d "$(echo "$mem" | jq '{category, key, content, tags, priority}')"
done
```

### Restore to New Mind

```bash
# 1. Create new mind
NEW_KEY=$(curl -s -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/minds \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":"Restored Mind","description":"Restore from backup"}' \
  | jq -r .mind_key)

# 2. Import memories to new mind
jq -c '.memories[]' backup.json | while read mem; do
  curl -X POST https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEW_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d "$(echo "$mem" | jq '{category, key, content, tags, priority}')"
done
```

### Python Restore Script

```python
import json
import requests

URL = "https://synapse.schaefer.zone"
MIND_KEY = "mk_..."

def restore(backup_file):
    with open(backup_file) as f:
        data = json.load(f)
    
    for mem in data["memories"]:
        requests.post(
            f"{URL}/memory",
            headers={
                "Authorization": f"Bearer {MIND_KEY}",
                "Content-Type": "application/json"
            },
            json={
                "category": mem["category"],
                "key": mem["key"],
                "content": mem["content"],
                "tags": mem.get("tags", []),
                "priority": mem.get("priority", "normal")
            }
        )
    
    print(f"Restored {len(data['memories'])} memories")

restore("backup.json")
```

## Migration Between Minds

```python
def migrate_memories(source_key, target_key):
    """Migrate all memories from source mind to target mind."""
    # Export from source
    r = requests.get(
        f"{URL}/memory/mind-export",
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {source_key}"}
    )
    data = r.json()
    
    # Import to target
    for mem in data["memories"]:
        requests.post(
            f"{URL}/memory",
            headers={
                "Authorization": f"Bearer {target_key}",
                "Content-Type": "application/json"
            },
            json={
                "category": mem["category"],
                "key": mem["key"],
                "content": mem["content"],
                "tags": mem.get("tags", []),
                "priority": mem.get("priority", "normal")
            }
        )
    
    print(f"Migrated {len(data['memories'])} memories")
```

## Backup Other Data

Don't forget to back up:

| Data Type | Endpoint |
|-----------|----------|
| Memories | `GET /memory/mind-export` |
| Tasks | `GET /mind/tasks` |
| Scripts | `GET /scripts` |
| Webhooks | `GET /webhooks` |
| Cron jobs | `GET /cron` |
| Variables | `GET /var` |
| Chat history | `GET /chat/history?limit=10000` |

## Verification

After restore, verify:

```bash
# Count memories
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $KEY" \
     https://synapse.schaefer.zone/memory/stats | jq .total

# Compare with backup
jq .memory_count backup.json
```

## Best Practices

> [!TIP]
> - **Backup daily** — automate with cron
> - **Test restores** — a backup you can't restore is useless
> - **Keep multiple versions** — at least 30 days
> - **Store offsite** — S3, Backblaze B2, etc.
> - **Encrypt sensitive backups** — memories may contain PII
> - **Document the restore process** — you'll forget it by the time you need it

## Next Steps

- [Memory API](/docs/api/memory)
- [Cron & Scheduler](/docs/api/cron) — for automated backups