Pass files list to mksquashfs

backup.cpp

/* wrapper prog for mksquashfs
 * to add the missing file list functions
 * because xargs have lousy quoting and and shell script also suck
 * beware of the MAX_INPUT limit of the shell
 * Project Crew™ 1/15/2026
 */

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
using namespace std;

#define BAKPROG "mksquashfs"
#define BAKFILE "backup.sfs"
#define OPTIONS "-comp xz -processors 13"

int main()
{
    string list, cmd, filename = "filelist";

    // open file for reading like at McDonald's
    ifstream istrm(filename, ios::binary);
    if (!istrm.is_open())
    {
        cerr << "backup: \e[1;38;5;196merror:\e[0m failed to open "
                "the file: <\e[1;33m"
             << filename << "\e[0m>" << endl;
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    else
    {
        string line;

        cout << "backup: reading paths and files from list file..." << endl;
        while (getline(istrm, line))                 // generate list
        {
            list += "'" + line + "' ";
            //cout << "backup: read back from file: " << line << '\n';
        }
        //cout << list << "\n\n";
    }
    if(list.size() < 2)
    {
        cerr << "backup: \e[1;38;5;196merror:\e[0m empty list file, nothing do"
             << endl;
        exit(2);
    }

/* build the command */
    cout << "backup: building command line..." << endl;
    cmd = BAKPROG;
/* had to split the line because of some kind of compiler bug
 *   or SOMETHING */
    cmd += ' ' + list + BAKFILE + ' ' + OPTIONS;
    cout << "backup: backup command: $ ";
    cout << cmd << endl;
    cout << "backup: begin backup operation..." << endl;
    int chilret = system(cmd.data());
    if (!chilret)
    {
        cout << endl << "backup: completed successfully" << endl;
        cout << "\e[1;38;5;196mYOU SHOULD RENAME " << BAKFILE << "!\e[0m" << endl;
    }else
    {
        cerr << "backup: \e[1;38;5;196merror known:\e[0m the child "
             << "\e[1;32m" << BAKPROG
             << "\e[0m exited status \e[1;37m" << chilret << "\e[0m" << endl;
        exit(3);
    }
    return(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}