---
name: "bup-init"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bup"
version: "0.34-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bup-init"
---

# bup-init(1)

initialize a bup repository

## NAME

bup-init - initialize a bup repository

## SYNOPSIS

bup init \[-r *host*:*path*\] \[*directory*\]

## DESCRIPTION

`bup init` initializes a repository. The location will be the `*directory*` or `--remote` if provided, the directory specifed by any global `-d` argument (see [`bup`(1)](/bup/1.md)), the value of `BUP_DIR` in the environment if set, or `~/.bup`.

See `bup-config(5)` for configuration options that you may want to set. Some, like `bup.split.files` and `bup.split.trees` should normally be set (when desired) before adding data to the repository.

## OPTIONS

- \-r, --remote=\[*user*@\]*host*:\[*path*\], --remote=URL

  Initialize the specified *path* on the given *host*. Incompatible with *directory*. See [bup(1)](/bup/1.md) REMOTE OPTIONS for further information.

## EXAMPLES

-

  ```
  bup init ~/archive
  ```

## SEE ALSO

`bup-config(5)`, [`ssh_config`(5)](/ssh_config/5.md)

## BUP

Part of the [`bup`(1)](/bup/1.md) suite.

## AUTHORS

Avery Pennarun ⟨apenwarr@gmail.com⟩\\c.