Release version 1.2.1

- Change --force-keep semantics to skip the last N subdirectories inside each
  backup-docker-to-local folder
- Remove old behavior that skipped entire backup folders in --all mode
- Update CLI help text to reflect the new behavior
- Align unit and E2E tests with timestamp-based force-keep semantics

https://chatgpt.com/share/695d1ed9-44f0-800f-a236-e903c61036cb

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+name: CI
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ["**"]
+    tags:
+      - "v*"
+  pull_request:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ci-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    name: Tests (unit + e2e)
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.12"
+
+      - name: Upgrade pip
+        run: python -m pip install -U pip
+
+      - name: Install project (editable)
+        run: python -m pip install -e .
+
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: make test
+
+  tag-stable:
+    name: Tag stable on version tag
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [test]
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout (full history for tags)
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Configure git user
+        run: |
+          git config user.name  "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+
+      - name: Force-update stable tag to this commit
+        env:
+          SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+        run: |
+          git tag -f stable "${SHA}"
+          git push -f origin stable

.github/workflows/tests.yml

@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-name: CI
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches: [ "**" ]
-  pull_request:
-    branches: [ "**" ]
-
-jobs:
-  test:
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-latest]
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-
-      - name: Show Python version
-        run: python -V
-
-      - name: Make main.py executable (optional)
-        run: chmod +x main.py || true
-
-      - name: Install test dependencies (if any)
-        run: |
-          if [ -f requirements.txt ]; then
-            python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-            pip install -r requirements.txt
-          fi
-
-      - name: Run tests
-        run: make test

.gitignore

@@ -1 +1,3 @@
 **__pycache__
+*.egg-info
+dist/

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+## [1.2.1] - 2026-01-06
+
+* Fixed: --force-keep now applies to timestamp subdirectories inside each backup-docker-to-local folder instead of skipping entire backup folders.
+
+
+## [1.2.0] - 2025-12-31
+
+* Adds a force keep N option to all mode to skip the most recent backups during cleanup, with Docker based E2E tests ensuring the latest backups are preserved.
+
+
+## [1.1.0] - 2025-12-31
+
+* The backups directory is now configurable via --backups-root instead of being hardcoded to /Backups.
+
+
+## [1.0.0] - 2025-12-28
+
+* Official Release 🥳
+

MIRRORS

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+git@github.com:kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanup-failed-backups.git
+ssh://git@git.veen.world:2201/kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanback.git
+ssh://git@code.infinito.nexus:2201/kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanback.git
+https://pypi.org/project/cleanback/

Makefile

@@ -1,18 +1,17 @@
 # Makefile for Cleanup Failed Backups
 
-.PHONY: test install help
+.PHONY: install help test test-unit test-e2e
 
 help:
 	@echo "Available targets:"
 	@echo "  make test     - Run unit tests"
-	@echo "  make install  - Show installation instructions"
 
-test:
+test: test-unit test-e2e
+
+test-unit:
 	@echo ">> Running tests"
-	@python3 -m unittest -v test.py
+	@python3 -m unittest -v tests/unit/test_main.py
 
-install:
+test-e2e:
-	@echo ">> Installation instructions:"
+	docker build -f tests/e2e/Dockerfile.e2e -t cleanback-e2e .
-	@echo "   This software can be installed with pkgmgr:"
+	docker run --rm cleanback-e2e
-	@echo "     pkgmgr install cleanback"
-	@echo "   See project: https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/package-manager"

README.md

@@ -7,95 +7,135 @@
 
 **Repository:** https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanup-failed-backups
 
-This tool validates and (optionally) cleans up **failed Docker backup directories**.  
+`cleanback` validates and (optionally) cleans up **failed Docker backup directories**.  
-It scans backup folders under `/Backups`, uses [`dirval`](https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/directory-validator) to validate each subdirectory, and lets you delete the ones that fail validation. Validation runs **in parallel** for performance; deletions are controlled and can be interactive or automatic.
+It scans backup folders under a configurable backups root (e.g. `/Backups`), uses `dirval` to validate each subdirectory, and lets you delete the ones that fail validation.
+
+Validation runs **in parallel** for performance; deletions are controlled and can be **interactive** or **fully automatic**.
 
 ---
 
 ## ✨ Highlights
 
 - **Parallel validation** of backup subdirectories
-- Uses **`dirval`** (`directory-validator`) via CLI for robust validation
+- Uses **`dirval`** (directory-validator) via CLI
 - **Interactive** or **non-interactive** deletion flow (`--yes`)
 - Supports validating a single backup **ID** or **all** backups
+- Clean **Python package** with `pyproject.toml`
+- **Unit + Docker-based E2E tests**
 
 ---
 
 ## 📦 Installation
 
-This project is installable via **pkgmgr** (Kevin’s package manager).
+### Via pip (recommended)
-
-**New pkgmgr alias:** `cleanback`
 
 ```bash
-# Install pkgmgr first (if you don't have it):
+pip install cleanback
-# https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/package-manager
-
-pkgmgr install cleanback
 ````
 
-> `dirval` is declared as a dependency (see `requirements.yml`) and will be resolved by pkgmgr.
+This installs:
+
+* the `cleanback` CLI
+* `dirval` as a dependency (declared in `pyproject.toml`)
+
+### Editable install (for development)
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanup-failed-backups
+cd cleanup-failed-backups
+pip install -e .
+```
 
 ---
 
 ## 🔧 Requirements
 
-* Python 3.8+
+* Python **3.8+**
-* `dirval` available on PATH (resolved automatically by `pkgmgr install cleanback`)
+* Access to the backups root directory tree (e.g. `/Backups`)
-* Access to `/Backups` directory tree
+* `dirval` (installed automatically via pip dependency)
 
 ---
 
 ## 🚀 Usage
 
-The executable is `main.py`:
+### CLI entrypoint
+
+After installation, the command is:
 
 ```bash
-# Validate a single backup ID (under /Backups/<ID>/backup-docker-to-local)
+cleanback
-python3 main.py --id <ID>
-
-# Validate ALL backup IDs under /Backups/*/backup-docker-to-local
-python3 main.py --all
 ```
 
+### Validate a single backup ID
+
+```bash
+cleanback --backups-root /Backups --id <ID>
+```
+
+Validates directories under:
+
+```
+/Backups/<ID>/backup-docker-to-local/*
+```
+
+### Validate all backups
+
+```bash
+cleanback --backups-root /Backups --all
+```
+
+Scans:
+
+```
+/Backups/*/backup-docker-to-local/*
+```
+
+---
+
 ### Common options
 
-* `--dirval-cmd <path-or-name>` — command to run `dirval` (default: `dirval`)
+| Option               | Description                                                        |
-* `--workers <int>` — parallel workers (default: CPU count, min 2)
+| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
-* `--timeout <seconds>` — per-directory validation timeout (float supported; default: 300.0)
+| `--dirval-cmd <cmd>` | Path or name of `dirval` executable (default: `dirval`)            |
-* `--yes` — **non-interactive**: auto-delete directories that fail validation
+| `--workers <n>`      | Parallel workers (default: CPU count, min 2)                       |
+| `--timeout <sec>`    | Per-directory validation timeout (float supported, default: 300.0) |
+| `--yes`              | Non-interactive mode: delete failures automatically                |
+| `--force-keep <n>`   | In `--all` mode: skip the last *n* backup folders (default: 0)      |
+
+---
 
 ### Examples
 
 ```bash
-# Validate a single backup and prompt for deletions on failures
+# Validate a single backup and prompt on failures
-python3 main.py --id 2024-09-01T12-00-00
+cleanback --backups-root /Backups --id 2024-09-01T12-00-00
 
 # Validate everything with 8 workers and auto-delete failures
-python3 main.py --all --workers 8 --yes
+cleanback --backups-root /Backups --all --workers 8 --yes
 
-# Use a custom dirval binary and shorter timeout
+# Use a custom dirval binary and short timeout
-python3 main.py --all --dirval-cmd /usr/local/bin/dirval --timeout 5.0
+cleanback --backups-root /Backups --all --dirval-cmd /usr/local/bin/dirval --timeout 5.0
 ```
 
 ---
 
 ## 🧪 Tests
 
+### Run all tests
+
 ```bash
 make test
 ```
 
-This runs the unit tests in `test.py`. Tests create a temporary `/Backups`-like tree and a fake `dirval` to simulate success/failure/timeout behavior.
-
 ---
 
-## 📁 Project Layout
+## 🔒 Safety & Design Notes
 
-* `main.py` — CLI entry point (parallel validator + cleanup)
+* **No host filesystem is modified** during tests
-* `test.py` — unit tests
+  (E2E tests run exclusively inside Docker)
-* `requirements.yml` — `pkgmgr` dependencies (includes `dirval`)
+* Deletions are **explicitly confirmed** unless `--yes` is used
-* `Makefile` — `make test` and an informational `make install`
+* Timeouts are treated as **validation failures**
+* Validation and deletion phases are **clearly separated**
 
 ---
 

pyproject.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=69", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[project]
+name = "cleanback"
+version = "1.2.1"
+description = "Cleanup Failed Docker Backups — parallel validator (using dirval)"
+readme = "README.md"
+requires-python = ">=3.8"
+license = { file = "LICENSE" }
+authors = [{ name = "Kevin Veen-Birkenbach", email = "kevin@veen.world" }]
+keywords = ["backup", "docker", "validation", "cleanup", "dirval"]
+dependencies = [
+  "dirval>=0.1.0",
+]
+
+[project.urls]
+Homepage = "https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanup-failed-backups"
+Repository = "https://github.com/kevinveenbirkenbach/cleanup-failed-backups"
+
+[project.scripts]
+cleanback = "cleanback.__main__:main"
+
+[tool.setuptools]
+package-dir = {"" = "src"}
+
+[tool.setuptools.packages.find]
+where = ["src"]

requirements.yml

@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-pkgmgr:
-  - dirval

src/cleanback/__main__.py

@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 """
 Cleanup Failed Docker Backups — parallel validator (using dirval)
+with optional "keep last N backups" behavior in --all mode.
 
 Validates backup subdirectories under:
-- /Backups/<ID>/backup-docker-to-local          (when --id is used)
+- <BACKUPS_ROOT>/<ID>/backup-docker-to-local          (when --id is used)
-- /Backups/*/backup-docker-to-local             (when --all is used)
+- <BACKUPS_ROOT>/*/backup-docker-to-local             (when --all is used)
 
 For each subdirectory:
 - Runs `dirval <subdir> --validate`.
@@ -19,17 +20,15 @@ Parallelism:
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
-import sys
+import multiprocessing
 import shutil
 import subprocess
+import sys
+import time
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor, as_completed
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional, Tuple
-import multiprocessing
-import time
-
-BACKUPS_ROOT = Path("/Backups")
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -41,33 +40,64 @@ class ValidationResult:
     stdout: str
 
 
-def discover_target_subdirs(backup_id: Optional[str], all_mode: bool) -> List[Path]:
+def _sorted_timestamp_subdirs(path: Path) -> List[Path]:
+    # Timestamp-like folder names sort correctly lexicographically.
+    # We keep it simple: sort by name.
+    return sorted([p for p in path.iterdir() if p.is_dir()], key=lambda p: p.name)
+
+
+def _apply_force_keep(subdirs: List[Path], force_keep: int) -> List[Path]:
+    if force_keep <= 0:
+        return subdirs
+    if len(subdirs) <= force_keep:
+        return []
+    return subdirs[:-force_keep]
+
+
+def discover_target_subdirs(
+    backups_root: Path, backup_id: Optional[str], all_mode: bool, force_keep: int
+) -> List[Path]:
     """
     Return a list of subdirectories to validate:
-      - If backup_id is given: /Backups/<id>/backup-docker-to-local/* (dirs only)
+      - If backup_id is given: <root>/<id>/backup-docker-to-local/* (dirs only)
-      - If --all: for each /Backups/* that has backup-docker-to-local, include its subdirs
+      - If --all: for each <root>/* that has backup-docker-to-local, include its subdirs
+    force_keep:
+      - Skips the last N timestamp subdirectories inside each backup-docker-to-local folder.
     """
     targets: List[Path] = []
+    if force_keep < 0:
+        raise ValueError("--force-keep must be >= 0")
+
+    if not backups_root.is_dir():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Backups root does not exist: {backups_root}")
 
     if all_mode:
-        if not BACKUPS_ROOT.is_dir():
+        backup_folders = sorted(
-            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Backups root does not exist: {BACKUPS_ROOT}")
+            [p for p in backups_root.iterdir() if p.is_dir()],
-        for backup_folder in sorted(p for p in BACKUPS_ROOT.iterdir() if p.is_dir()):
+            key=lambda p: p.name,
+        )
+        for backup_folder in backup_folders:
             candidate = backup_folder / "backup-docker-to-local"
             if candidate.is_dir():
-                targets.extend(sorted([p for p in candidate.iterdir() if p.is_dir()]))
+                subdirs = _sorted_timestamp_subdirs(candidate)
+                subdirs = _apply_force_keep(subdirs, force_keep)
+                targets.extend(subdirs)
     else:
         if not backup_id:
             raise ValueError("Either --id or --all must be provided.")
-        base = BACKUPS_ROOT / backup_id / "backup-docker-to-local"
+        base = backups_root / backup_id / "backup-docker-to-local"
         if not base.is_dir():
             raise FileNotFoundError(f"Directory does not exist: {base}")
-        targets = sorted([p for p in base.iterdir() if p.is_dir()])
+        subdirs = _sorted_timestamp_subdirs(base)
+        subdirs = _apply_force_keep(subdirs, force_keep)
+        targets = subdirs
 
     return targets
 
 
-def run_dirval_validate(subdir: Path, dirval_cmd: str, timeout: float) -> ValidationResult:
+def run_dirval_validate(
+    subdir: Path, dirval_cmd: str, timeout: float
+) -> ValidationResult:
     """
     Execute dirval:
         <dirval_cmd> "<SUBDIR>" --validate
@@ -108,16 +138,23 @@ def run_dirval_validate(subdir: Path, dirval_cmd: str, timeout: float) -> Valida
         )
 
 
-def parallel_validate(subdirs: List[Path], dirval_cmd: str, workers: int, timeout: float) -> List[ValidationResult]:
+def parallel_validate(
+    subdirs: List[Path], dirval_cmd: str, workers: int, timeout: float
+) -> List[ValidationResult]:
     results: List[ValidationResult] = []
     if not subdirs:
         return results
 
-    print(f"Validating {len(subdirs)} directories with {workers} workers (dirval: {dirval_cmd})...")
+    print(
+        f"Validating {len(subdirs)} directories with {workers} workers (dirval: {dirval_cmd})..."
+    )
     start = time.time()
 
     with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=workers) as pool:
-        future_map = {pool.submit(run_dirval_validate, sd, dirval_cmd, timeout): sd for sd in subdirs}
+        future_map = {
+            pool.submit(run_dirval_validate, sd, dirval_cmd, timeout): sd
+            for sd in subdirs
+        }
         for fut in as_completed(future_map):
             res = fut.result()
             status = "ok" if res.ok else "error"
@@ -190,9 +227,24 @@ def parse_args(argv: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="Validate (and optionally delete) failed backup subdirectories in parallel using dirval."
     )
+
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--backups-root",
+        required=True,
+        type=Path,
+        help="Root directory containing backup folders (required).",
+    )
+
     scope = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
-    scope.add_argument("--id", dest="backup_id", help="Backup folder name under /Backups.")
+    scope.add_argument(
-    scope.add_argument("--all", dest="all_mode", action="store_true", help="Scan all /Backups/* folders.")
+        "--id", dest="backup_id", help="Backup folder name under backups root."
+    )
+    scope.add_argument(
+        "--all",
+        dest="all_mode",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Scan all backups root/* folders.",
+    )
 
     parser.add_argument(
         "--dirval-cmd",
@@ -216,6 +268,12 @@ def parse_args(argv: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> argparse.Namespace:
         action="store_true",
         help="Do not prompt; delete failing directories automatically.",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--force-keep",
+        type=int,
+        default=0,
+        help="Keep (skip) the last N timestamp subdirectories inside each backup-docker-to-local folder (default: 0).",
+    )
     return parser.parse_args(argv)
 
 
@@ -223,7 +281,12 @@ def main(argv: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> int:
     args = parse_args(argv)
 
     try:
-        subdirs = discover_target_subdirs(args.backup_id, bool(args.all_mode))
+        subdirs = discover_target_subdirs(
+            args.backups_root,
+            args.backup_id,
+            bool(args.all_mode),
+            int(args.force_keep),
+        )
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"ERROR: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
         return 2
@@ -242,7 +305,9 @@ def main(argv: Optional[List[str]] = None) -> int:
     print(f"\n{len(failures)} directory(ies) failed validation.")
     deleted = process_deletions(failures, assume_yes=args.yes)
     kept = len(failures) - deleted
-    print(f"\nSummary: deleted={deleted}, kept={kept}, ok={len(results) - len(failures)}")
+    print(
+        f"\nSummary: deleted={deleted}, kept={kept}, ok={len(results) - len(failures)}"
+    )
     return 0
 
 

tests/e2e/Dockerfile.e2e

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+FROM python:3.12-slim
+
+WORKDIR /opt/app
+
+# Copy project
+COPY . .
+
+# Install the project (editable is fine for tests)
+RUN python -m pip install -U pip \
+ && python -m pip install -e . \
+ && python -m pip install -U unittest-xml-reporting >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+# Create /Backups in container (our tests will use it)
+RUN mkdir -p /Backups
+
+# Run E2E unittest
+CMD ["python", "-m", "unittest", "discover", "-v", "-s", "tests/e2e", "-p", "test_*.py"]

tests/e2e/test_e2e_docker.py

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import os
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+FAKE_TIMEOUT_SLEEP = 0.3
+SHORT_TIMEOUT = "0.1"
+
+
+FAKE_DIRVAL = f"""#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import sys, time, argparse, pathlib
+
+def main():
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    p.add_argument("path")
+    p.add_argument("--validate", action="store_true")
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    d = pathlib.Path(args.path)
+    name = d.name.lower()
+
+    if "timeout" in name:
+        time.sleep({FAKE_TIMEOUT_SLEEP})
+        print("Simulated long run...")
+        return 0
+
+    if (d / "VALID").exists():
+        print("ok")
+        return 0
+
+    print("failed")
+    return 1
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
+"""
+
+
+class CleanbackE2EDockerTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    """
+    E2E test that uses real directories, but runs inside a Docker container.
+    It creates /Backups structure inside the container and invokes the app
+    via `python -m cleanback`.
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        # Create a real /Backups root inside the container
+        # (safe because we are in Docker)
+        self.backups_root = Path("/Backups")
+        self.backups_root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        # Use a unique run folder so repeated runs don't collide
+        self.run_root = self.backups_root / f"E2E-{os.getpid()}"
+        self.run_root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        # Create fake `dirval` executable on disk (real file, real chmod)
+        self.bin_dir = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="cleanback-bin-"))
+        self.dirval = self.bin_dir / "dirval"
+        self.dirval.write_text(FAKE_DIRVAL, encoding="utf-8")
+        self.dirval.chmod(0o755)
+
+        # Create real backup directory structure
+        # /Backups/<ID>/backup-docker-to-local/{good,bad,timeout}
+        self.backup_id = "ID-E2E"
+        self.base = self.run_root / self.backup_id / "backup-docker-to-local"
+        self.base.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        self.good = self.base / "good"
+        self.bad = self.base / "bad"
+        self.timeout = self.base / "timeout"
+        for p in (self.good, self.bad, self.timeout):
+            p.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        (self.good / "VALID").write_text("1", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        # Cleanup what we created inside /Backups
+        # Keep it simple and robust (don't fail teardown)
+        try:
+            if self.run_root.exists():
+                for p in sorted(self.run_root.rglob("*"), reverse=True):
+                    try:
+                        if p.is_dir():
+                            p.rmdir()
+                        else:
+                            p.unlink()
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+                try:
+                    self.run_root.rmdir()
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+        try:
+            # Remove temp bin dir
+            if self.bin_dir.exists():
+                for p in sorted(self.bin_dir.rglob("*"), reverse=True):
+                    try:
+                        if p.is_dir():
+                            p.rmdir()
+                        else:
+                            p.unlink()
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+                try:
+                    self.bin_dir.rmdir()
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    def test_e2e_id_mode_yes_deletes_failures(self):
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+
+        # Prepend fake dirval path for this test run
+        env["PATH"] = f"{self.bin_dir}:{env.get('PATH', '')}"
+
+        # Run: python -m cleanback --id <ID> --yes
+        # We must point BACKUPS_ROOT to our run_root. Easiest: set /Backups = run_root
+        # But code currently has BACKUPS_ROOT = /Backups constant.
+        #
+        # Therefore, we create our test tree under /Backups (done above) and pass --id
+        # relative to that structure by using run_root/<ID>. To do that, we make
+        # run_root the direct child under /Backups, then we pass the composite id:
+        # "<run-folder>/<ID>".
+        composite_id = f"{self.run_root.name}/{self.backup_id}"
+
+        cmd = [
+            "python",
+            "-m",
+            "cleanback",
+            "--backups-root",
+            "/Backups",
+            "--id",
+            composite_id,
+            "--dirval-cmd",
+            "dirval",
+            "--workers",
+            "4",
+            "--timeout",
+            SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+            "--yes",
+        ]
+        proc = subprocess.run(cmd, text=True, capture_output=True, env=env)
+
+        self.assertEqual(proc.returncode, 0, msg=proc.stderr or proc.stdout)
+        self.assertTrue(self.good.exists(), "good should remain")
+        self.assertFalse(self.bad.exists(), "bad should be deleted")
+        self.assertFalse(
+            self.timeout.exists(),
+            "timeout should be deleted (timeout treated as failure)",
+        )
+        self.assertIn("Summary:", proc.stdout)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main(verbosity=2)

tests/e2e/test_e2e_force_keep.py

@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import os
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+FAKE_TIMEOUT_SLEEP = 0.3
+SHORT_TIMEOUT = "0.1"
+
+FAKE_DIRVAL = f"""#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import sys, time, argparse, pathlib
+
+def main():
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    p.add_argument("path")
+    p.add_argument("--validate", action="store_true")
+    args = p.parse_args()
+
+    d = pathlib.Path(args.path)
+    name = d.name.lower()
+
+    if "timeout" in name:
+        time.sleep({FAKE_TIMEOUT_SLEEP})
+        print("Simulated long run...")
+        return 0
+
+    if (d / "VALID").exists():
+        print("ok")
+        return 0
+
+    print("failed")
+    return 1
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
+"""
+
+
+class CleanbackE2EForceKeepTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    """
+    E2E test that validates --force-keep in --all mode.
+
+    The current behavior is:
+    - In --all mode, cleanback discovers each /Backups/<ID>/backup-docker-to-local/*
+    - Within each backup-docker-to-local folder, subdirs are sorted by name
+    - With --force-keep N, the last N subdirs in that folder are skipped (kept)
+
+    This test creates two backup folders under /Backups so --all can find them:
+      /Backups/<prefix>-01/backup-docker-to-local/{good,bad}
+      /Backups/<prefix>-02/backup-docker-to-local/{good,bad}
+
+    With --force-keep 1:
+    - In each folder, "good" is the last (sorted) and is skipped (kept)
+    - "bad" is processed and deleted
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.backups_root = Path("/Backups")
+        self.backups_root.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        # Unique prefix to avoid collisions across runs
+        self.prefix = f"E2EKEEP-{os.getpid()}"
+
+        # Create fake `dirval` executable on disk (real file, real chmod)
+        self.bin_dir = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="cleanback-bin-"))
+        self.dirval = self.bin_dir / "dirval"
+        self.dirval.write_text(FAKE_DIRVAL, encoding="utf-8")
+        self.dirval.chmod(0o755)
+
+        # Two backup folders directly under /Backups (so --all can discover them)
+        self.b1 = self.backups_root / f"{self.prefix}-01" / "backup-docker-to-local"
+        self.b2 = self.backups_root / f"{self.prefix}-02" / "backup-docker-to-local"
+        self.b1.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        self.b2.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        # Within each: good + bad
+        self.b1_good = self.b1 / "good"
+        self.b1_bad = self.b1 / "bad"
+        self.b2_good = self.b2 / "good"
+        self.b2_bad = self.b2 / "bad"
+
+        for p in (self.b1_good, self.b1_bad, self.b2_good, self.b2_bad):
+            p.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+        # Mark goods as valid
+        (self.b1_good / "VALID").write_text("1", encoding="utf-8")
+        (self.b2_good / "VALID").write_text("1", encoding="utf-8")
+
+        # Convenience for teardown
+        self.created_roots = [
+            self.backups_root / f"{self.prefix}-01",
+            self.backups_root / f"{self.prefix}-02",
+        ]
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        # Cleanup created backup folders
+        for root in self.created_roots:
+            try:
+                if root.exists():
+                    for p in sorted(root.rglob("*"), reverse=True):
+                        try:
+                            if p.is_dir():
+                                p.rmdir()
+                            else:
+                                p.unlink()
+                        except Exception:
+                            pass
+                    try:
+                        root.rmdir()
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
+        # Cleanup temp bin dir
+        try:
+            if self.bin_dir.exists():
+                for p in sorted(self.bin_dir.rglob("*"), reverse=True):
+                    try:
+                        if p.is_dir():
+                            p.rmdir()
+                        else:
+                            p.unlink()
+                    except Exception:
+                        pass
+                try:
+                    self.bin_dir.rmdir()
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    def test_all_mode_force_keep_skips_last_timestamp_subdir_per_backup_folder(self):
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env["PATH"] = f"{self.bin_dir}:{env.get('PATH', '')}"
+
+        cmd = [
+            "python",
+            "-m",
+            "cleanback",
+            "--backups-root",
+            "/Backups",
+            "--all",
+            "--force-keep",
+            "1",
+            "--dirval-cmd",
+            "dirval",
+            "--workers",
+            "4",
+            "--timeout",
+            SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+            "--yes",
+        ]
+        proc = subprocess.run(cmd, text=True, capture_output=True, env=env)
+
+        self.assertEqual(proc.returncode, 0, msg=proc.stderr or proc.stdout)
+
+        # In each folder, sorted subdirs are: bad, good -> good is skipped, bad is processed
+        self.assertTrue(self.b1_good.exists(), "b1 good should remain (skipped)")
+        self.assertFalse(self.b1_bad.exists(), "b1 bad should be deleted")
+
+        self.assertTrue(self.b2_good.exists(), "b2 good should remain (skipped)")
+        self.assertFalse(self.b2_bad.exists(), "b2 bad should be deleted")
+
+        self.assertIn("Summary:", proc.stdout)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main(verbosity=2)

tests/unit/test_main.py

@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import contextlib
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
-# Import cleanup main.py
+# Import cleanback package entrypoint
-HERE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]  # repo root
-sys.path.insert(0, str(HERE))
+sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT / "src"))
-import main  # noqa: E402
+from cleanback import __main__ as main  # noqa: E402
 
 # Keep tests snappy but reliable:
 # - "timeout" dirs sleep 0.3s in fake dirval
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     sys.exit(main())
 """
 
+
 class CleanupBackupsUsingDirvalTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         # temp /Backups root
@@ -89,12 +90,7 @@ class CleanupBackupsUsingDirvalTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.stdout_cm.__enter__()
         self.stderr_cm.__enter__()
 
-        # Patch BACKUPS_ROOT to temp root
-        self.backups_patcher = patch.object(main, "BACKUPS_ROOT", self.backups_root)
-        self.backups_patcher.start()
-
     def tearDown(self):
-        self.backups_patcher.stop()
         self.stdout_cm.__exit__(None, None, None)
         self.stderr_cm.__exit__(None, None, None)
         self.tmpdir.cleanup()
@@ -105,32 +101,52 @@ class CleanupBackupsUsingDirvalTests(unittest.TestCase):
         out = self._stdout.getvalue()
         err = self._stderr.getvalue()
         dur = time.time() - start
-        self._stdout.seek(0); self._stdout.truncate(0)
+        self._stdout.seek(0)
-        self._stderr.seek(0); self._stderr.truncate(0)
+        self._stdout.truncate(0)
+        self._stderr.seek(0)
+        self._stderr.truncate(0)
         return rc, out, err, dur
 
     def test_id_mode_yes_deletes_failures(self):
-        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main([
+        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
-            "--id", "ID1",
+            [
-            "--dirval-cmd", str(self.dirval),
+                "--backups-root",
-            "--workers", "4",
+                str(self.backups_root),
-            "--timeout", SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                "--id",
+                "ID1",
+                "--dirval-cmd",
+                str(self.dirval),
+                "--workers",
+                "4",
+                "--timeout",
+                SHORT_TIMEOUT,
                 "--yes",
-        ])
+            ]
+        )
         self.assertEqual(rc, 0, msg=err or out)
         self.assertTrue(self.goodA.exists(), "goodA should remain")
         self.assertFalse(self.badB.exists(), "badB should be deleted")
-        self.assertFalse(self.timeoutC.exists(), "timeoutC should be deleted (timeout treated as failure)")
+        self.assertFalse(
+            self.timeoutC.exists(),
+            "timeoutC should be deleted (timeout treated as failure)",
+        )
         self.assertIn("Summary:", out)
 
     def test_all_mode(self):
-        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main([
+        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
+            [
+                "--backups-root",
+                str(self.backups_root),
                 "--all",
-            "--dirval-cmd", str(self.dirval),
+                "--dirval-cmd",
-            "--workers", "4",
+                str(self.dirval),
-            "--timeout", SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                "--workers",
+                "4",
+                "--timeout",
+                SHORT_TIMEOUT,
                 "--yes",
-        ])
+            ]
+        )
         self.assertEqual(rc, 0, msg=err or out)
         self.assertTrue(self.goodA.exists())
         self.assertFalse(self.badB.exists())
@@ -138,50 +154,111 @@ class CleanupBackupsUsingDirvalTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(self.goodX.exists())
         self.assertFalse(self.badY.exists())
 
-    def test_dirval_missing_errors(self):
+    def test_all_mode_force_keep_skips_last_timestamp_subdir_per_backup_folder(self):
-        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main([
+        # Subdirs are sorted by name.
-            "--id", "ID1",
+        # --force-keep 1 skips the last subdir inside each backup-docker-to-local folder.
-            "--dirval-cmd", str(self.backups_root / "nope-dirval"),
+        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
-            "--timeout", SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+            [
+                "--backups-root",
+                str(self.backups_root),
+                "--all",
+                "--force-keep",
+                "1",
+                "--dirval-cmd",
+                str(self.dirval),
+                "--workers",
+                "4",
+                "--timeout",
+                SHORT_TIMEOUT,
                 "--yes",
-        ])
+            ]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(rc, 0, msg=err or out)
+
+        # ID1 sorted: badB, goodA, timeoutC -> timeoutC is skipped, others processed
+        self.assertTrue(self.goodA.exists(), "goodA should remain")
+        self.assertFalse(self.badB.exists(), "badB should be deleted")
+        self.assertTrue(self.timeoutC.exists(), "timeoutC should be skipped (kept)")
+
+        # ID2 sorted: badY, goodX -> goodX is skipped, badY processed
+        self.assertTrue(self.goodX.exists(), "goodX should be skipped (kept)")
+        self.assertFalse(self.badY.exists(), "badY should be processed and deleted")
+
+    def test_dirval_missing_errors(self):
+        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
+            [
+                "--backups-root",
+                str(self.backups_root),
+                "--id",
+                "ID1",
+                "--dirval-cmd",
+                str(self.backups_root / "nope-dirval"),
+                "--timeout",
+                SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                "--yes",
+            ]
+        )
         self.assertEqual(rc, 0, msg=err or out)
         self.assertIn("dirval not found", out + err)
 
     def test_no_targets_message(self):
         empty = self.backups_root / "EMPTY" / "backup-docker-to-local"
         empty.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main([
+        rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
-            "--id", "EMPTY",
+            [
-            "--dirval-cmd", str(self.dirval),
+                "--backups-root",
-            "--timeout", SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                str(self.backups_root),
-        ])
+                "--id",
+                "EMPTY",
+                "--dirval-cmd",
+                str(self.dirval),
+                "--timeout",
+                SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+            ]
+        )
         self.assertEqual(rc, 0)
         self.assertIn("No subdirectories to validate. Nothing to do.", out)
 
     def test_interactive_keeps_when_no(self):
         with patch("builtins.input", return_value=""):
-            rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main([
+            rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
-                "--id", "ID2",
+                [
-                "--dirval-cmd", str(self.dirval),
+                    "--backups-root",
-                "--workers", "1",
+                    str(self.backups_root),
-                "--timeout", SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                    "--id",
-            ])
+                    "ID2",
+                    "--dirval-cmd",
+                    str(self.dirval),
+                    "--workers",
+                    "1",
+                    "--timeout",
+                    SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                ]
+            )
         self.assertEqual(rc, 0, msg=err or out)
         self.assertTrue(self.badY.exists(), "badY should be kept without confirmation")
         self.assertTrue(self.goodX.exists())
 
     def test_interactive_yes_deletes(self):
         with patch("builtins.input", return_value="y"):
-            rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main([
+            rc, out, err, _ = self.run_main(
-                "--id", "ID2",
+                [
-                "--dirval-cmd", str(self.dirval),
+                    "--backups-root",
-                "--workers", "1",
+                    str(self.backups_root),
-                "--timeout", SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                    "--id",
-            ])
+                    "ID2",
+                    "--dirval-cmd",
+                    str(self.dirval),
+                    "--workers",
+                    "1",
+                    "--timeout",
+                    SHORT_TIMEOUT,
+                ]
+            )
         self.assertEqual(rc, 0, msg=err or out)
         self.assertFalse(self.badY.exists(), "badY should be deleted")
         self.assertTrue(self.goodX.exists())
 
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main(verbosity=2)