app/src-tauri/src/commands/file_commands.rs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-use bollard::container::{DownloadFromContainerOptions, UploadToContainerOptions};
+use bollard::container::{DownloadFromContainerOptions, LogOutput, UploadToContainerOptions};
+use bollard::exec::{CreateExecOptions, StartExecResults};
 use futures_util::StreamExt;
 use serde::Serialize;
 use tauri::State;
@@ -151,6 +152,117 @@ pub async fn download_container_file(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Create a `.tar.gz` backup of the container's /workspace and stream it to a
+/// host file. Regenerable build artifacts (node_modules, target, .git/objects)
+/// are excluded so the archive stays restore-sized. Requires the container to
+/// exist (it can be stopped or running). Returns the number of bytes written.
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn download_container_backup(
+    project_id: String,
+    host_path: String,
+    container_path: Option<String>,
+    state: State<'_, AppState>,
+) -> Result<u64, String> {
+    let project = state
+        .projects_store
+        .get(&project_id)
+        .ok_or_else(|| format!("Project {} not found", project_id))?;
+
+    let container_id = project
+        .container_id
+        .as_ref()
+        .ok_or_else(|| "No container exists for this project yet — start it first".to_string())?;
+
+    let docker = get_docker()?;
+    let path = container_path.unwrap_or_else(|| "/workspace".to_string());
+
+    // Build + gzip the archive inside the container (excludes happen there, so a
+    // 16 GB workspace doesn't get streamed in full), then pipe stdout to the
+    // chosen host file. --ignore-failed-read keeps a transient unreadable file
+    // from aborting the whole backup.
+    let cmd = vec![
+        "tar".to_string(),
+        "czf".to_string(),
+        "-".to_string(),
+        "--ignore-failed-read".to_string(),
+        "--exclude=*/node_modules".to_string(),
+        "--exclude=*/target".to_string(),
+        "--exclude=*/.git/objects".to_string(),
+        "-C".to_string(),
+        path,
+        ".".to_string(),
+    ];
+
+    let exec = docker
+        .create_exec(
+            container_id,
+            CreateExecOptions {
+                attach_stdout: Some(true),
+                attach_stderr: Some(true),
+                cmd: Some(cmd),
+                user: Some("claude".to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        )
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to create backup exec: {}", e))?;
+
+    let result = docker
+        .start_exec(&exec.id, None)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start backup exec: {}", e))?;
+
+    let mut output = match result {
+        StartExecResults::Attached { output, .. } => output,
+        StartExecResults::Detached => return Err("Backup exec started detached".to_string()),
+    };
+
+    use std::io::Write;
+    let file =
+        std::fs::File::create(&host_path).map_err(|e| format!("Failed to create backup file: {}", e))?;
+    let mut writer = std::io::BufWriter::new(file);
+    let mut total: u64 = 0;
+    let mut stderr_text = String::new();
+
+    while let Some(msg) = output.next().await {
+        match msg.map_err(|e| format!("Backup stream error: {}", e))? {
+            LogOutput::StdOut { message } => {
+                writer
+                    .write_all(&message)
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to write backup file: {}", e))?;
+                total += message.len() as u64;
+            }
+            LogOutput::StdErr { message } => {
+                stderr_text.push_str(&String::from_utf8_lossy(&message));
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+    writer
+        .flush()
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to finalize backup file: {}", e))?;
+
+    if total == 0 {
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&host_path);
+        return Err(format!(
+            "Backup produced no data{}",
+            if stderr_text.trim().is_empty() {
+                String::new()
+            } else {
+                format!(": {}", stderr_text.trim())
+            }
+        ));
+    }
+
+    log::info!(
+        "Wrote {} byte backup for project {} to {}",
+        total,
+        project_id,
+        host_path
+    );
+    Ok(total)
+}
+
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn upload_file_to_container(
     project_id: String,

app/src-tauri/src/lib.rs

@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             // Files
             commands::file_commands::list_container_files,
             commands::file_commands::download_container_file,
+            commands::file_commands::download_container_backup,
             commands::file_commands::upload_file_to_container,
             // MCP
             commands::mcp_commands::list_mcp_servers,

app/src/components/projects/ProjectCard.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
-import { open } from "@tauri-apps/plugin-dialog";
+import { open, save } from "@tauri-apps/plugin-dialog";
+import * as commands from "../../lib/tauri-commands";
 import { listen } from "@tauri-apps/api/event";
 import type { Project, ProjectPath, Backend, BedrockConfig, BedrockAuthMethod, OllamaConfig, OpenAiCompatibleConfig } from "../../lib/types";
 import { useProjects } from "../../hooks/useProjects";
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
   const [activeOperation, setActiveOperation] = useState<"starting" | "stopping" | "resetting" | null>(null);
   const [operationCompleted, setOperationCompleted] = useState(false);
   const [showRemoveModal, setShowRemoveModal] = useState(false);
+  const [backingUp, setBackingUp] = useState(false);
   const [isEditingName, setIsEditingName] = useState(false);
   const [editName, setEditName] = useState(project.name);
   const isSelected = selectedProjectId === project.id;
@@ -177,6 +179,31 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleBackup = async () => {
+    if (!project.container_id) {
+      setError("Start the project at least once before backing up.");
+      return;
+    }
+    const stamp = new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 19).replace(/[:T]/g, "-");
+    const safeName = project.name.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_-]+/g, "_");
+    try {
+      const hostPath = await save({
+        defaultPath: `${safeName}-backup-${stamp}.tar.gz`,
+        filters: [{ name: "Gzipped tarball", extensions: ["tar.gz"] }],
+      });
+      if (!hostPath) return;
+      setBackingUp(true);
+      setError(null);
+      const bytes = await commands.downloadContainerBackup(project.id, hostPath);
+      const mb = (bytes / (1024 * 1024)).toFixed(1);
+      setProgressMsg(`Backup saved (${mb} MB)`);
+    } catch (e) {
+      setError(String(e));
+    } finally {
+      setBackingUp(false);
+    }
+  };
+
   const closeModal = () => {
     setActiveOperation(null);
     setOperationCompleted(false);
@@ -484,6 +511,11 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
             {isStopped ? (
               <>
                 <ActionButton onClick={handleStart} disabled={loading} label="Start" />
+                <ActionButton
+                  onClick={handleBackup}
+                  disabled={loading || backingUp || !project.container_id}
+                  label={backingUp ? "Backing up…" : "Backup"}
+                />
                 <ActionButton
                   onClick={async () => {
                     setLoading(true);
@@ -504,6 +536,7 @@ export default function ProjectCard({ project }: Props) {
                 <ActionButton onClick={handleOpenTerminal} disabled={loading} label="Terminal" accent />
                 <ActionButton onClick={handleOpenBashShell} disabled={loading} label="Shell" />
                 <ActionButton onClick={() => setShowFileManager(true)} disabled={loading} label="Files" />
+                <ActionButton onClick={handleBackup} disabled={loading || backingUp} label={backingUp ? "Backing up…" : "Backup"} />
               </>
             ) : (
               <>

app/src/lib/tauri-commands.ts

@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ export const listContainerFiles = (projectId: string, path: string) =>
   invoke<FileEntry[]>("list_container_files", { projectId, path });
 export const downloadContainerFile = (projectId: string, containerPath: string, hostPath: string) =>
   invoke<void>("download_container_file", { projectId, containerPath, hostPath });
+export const downloadContainerBackup = (projectId: string, hostPath: string, containerPath?: string) =>
+  invoke<number>("download_container_backup", { projectId, hostPath, containerPath });
 export const uploadFileToContainer = (projectId: string, hostPath: string, containerDir: string) =>
   invoke<void>("upload_file_to_container", { projectId, hostPath, containerDir });