httm
Interactive CLI tool to browse, search, and restore file versions from ZFS/btrfs/nilfs2 snapshots, Time Machine, and Restic backups.
What is httm?
httm is a command-line utility that provides Time Machine-like functionality for browsing and recovering files from various snapshot systems. It enables users to interactively explore, compare, and restore previous versions of files from ZFS, btrfs, nilfs2 snapshots, Time Machine backups, and Restic repositories. The tool makes snapshot management more intuitive by offering multiple interactive modes and supporting both local and remote snapshot sources.
System administrators, DevOps engineers, and advanced users who manage filesystems with snapshot capabilities (ZFS, btrfs, nilfs2) or use backup systems like Time Machine and Restic. It's particularly useful for those who need to recover deleted files or compare file versions across snapshots.
Developers choose httm over alternatives because it provides a unified, interactive CLI interface for multiple snapshot systems, supports both local and remote snapshots, and offers advanced features like guarded restores, roll-forward operations, and flexible preview options. Its speed and ability to work with non-native filesystems (like ext4, XFS, NTFS via rsync) make it more versatile than filesystem-specific tools.
Overview
Interactive, file-level Time Machine-like tool for ZFS/btrfs/nilfs2 (and even Time Machine and Restic backups!)
Use Cases
Best For
- Recovering deleted files from snapshot systems, even those hidden behind deleted directories
- Interactively browsing and comparing file versions across ZFS, btrfs, nilfs2, Time Machine, and Restic snapshots
- Managing snapshot-based file recovery with safety features like precautionary snapshots and roll-forward operations
- Working with remote snapshot sources (like SMB shares) and locally replicated snapshots
- Converting snapshot file versions into archives (tar, git) for backup or analysis
- Automating snapshot creation and file version tracking with wrapper scripts like ounce and nicotine
Not Ideal For
- Users who exclusively rely on graphical interfaces for file management and recovery tasks
- Environments without any configured snapshot systems (ZFS, btrfs, etc.) or backup tools like Time Machine
- Cross-platform teams requiring seamless Windows support, as Windows builds are not a priority
- Simple, one-off file recovery where basic tools like cp or restore suffice without interactive features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Works with ZFS, btrfs, nilfs2 snapshots, Time Machine backups, and Restic repositories, providing a unified CLI for diverse snapshot sources without filesystem lock-in.
Offers four native interactive modes (browse, select, prune, restore) for intuitive exploration and recovery, transforming snapshot management with fast, keyboard-driven workflows.
Recursively lists deleted files, even those hidden behind deleted directories, enabling recovery from complex snapshot hierarchies that standard tools might miss.
Includes guarded restores with precautionary snapshots and roll-forward options to avoid destroying interstitial snapshots, adding a layer of data protection during recovery.
Cons
Installation often requires building from source or managing platform-specific packages, with caveats like needing musl on old libc systems and optional script dependencies for full functionality.
Primarily tested on Unix-ish platforms (Linux, FreeBSD, MacOS); Windows support is not a priority, making it unsuitable for heterogeneous environments without workarounds.
Requires sudo for operations on some snapshot systems and depends on optional scripts like bowie for preview features, adding setup and maintenance complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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