diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 262a177..527053d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@
 - Add built-in documentation using `abra help <subcommand>...`, see ([#50](https://git.autonomic.zone/coop-cloud/abra/issues/50))
 - `version` subcommand ([e6b24fe](https://git.autonomic.zone/coop-cloud/abra/commit/e6b24fe))
 - Use `# length=x` comments to generate passwords with `pwgen` and drop `KEY`/`PASSWORD` logic ([#68](https://git.autonomic.zone/coop-cloud/abra/issues/68))
+- Global `--skip-update` / `--skip-check` options to make things quicker,
+		[37e8b00](https://git.autonomic.zone/coop-cloud/abra/commit/37e8b00)
+- `app backup` and `app restore` commands; requires per-app definition -- see
+		[#70](https://git.autonomic.zone/coop-cloud/abra/issues/70)
 
 # abra 0.4.1 (2020-12-24)
 
diff --git a/abra b/abra
index 17916c3..030fd77 100755
--- a/abra
+++ b/abra
@@ -12,20 +12,23 @@ DOC="
 The cooperative cloud utility belt 🎩🐇
 
 Usage:
-  abra [options] app new [--server=<server>] [--domain=<domain>] [--app-name=<app_name>] [--pass] [--secrets] <type>
   abra [options] app (list|ls) [--status] [--server=<server>]
-  abra [options] app <app> deploy [--skip-check]
-  abra [options] app <app> undeploy
-  abra [options] app <app> config
-  abra [options] app <app> (delete|rm) [--force]
-  abra [options] app <app> logs [<service>]
-  abra [options] app <app> cp <src> <dst>
+  abra [options] app new [--server=<server>] [--domain=<domain>] [--app-name=<app_name>] [--pass] [--secrets] <type>
+  abra [options] app <app> backup (<service>|--all)
+  abra [options] app <app> deploy
   abra [options] app <app> check
+  abra [options] app <app> config
+  abra [options] app <app> cp <src> <dst>
+  abra [options] app <app> logs [<service>]
   abra [options] app <app> ps
+  abra [options] app <app> restore (<service>|--all)
+  abra [options] app <app> (rm|delete) [--force]
+  abra [options] app <app> restore <service> [<backup file>]
   abra [options] app <app> run [--no-tty] [--user=<user>] <service> <args>...
   abra [options] app <app> secret generate (<secret> <version>|--all) [<cmd>] [--pass]
   abra [options] app <app> secret insert <secret> <version> <data> [--pass]
-  abra [options] app <app> secret (delete|rm) (<secret>|--all) [--pass] [--force]
+  abra [options] app <app> secret (rm|delete) (<secret>|--all) [--pass] [--force]
+  abra [options] app <app> undeploy
   abra [options] app <app> <command> [<args>...]
   abra [options] server add <host> [<user>] [<port>]
   abra [options] server (list|ls)
@@ -40,6 +43,8 @@ Options:
   -e, --env=<path>     Environment variables to load
   -h, --help           Show this message and exit
   -s, --stack=<stack>  Name of the target stack
+  -C, --skip-check    Don't verify app variables
+  -U, --skip-update   Don't pull latest app definitions
 
 See 'abra help <subcommands>...' to read about a specific subcommand.
 "
@@ -143,98 +148,107 @@ eval "var_$1+=($value)"; else eval "var_$1=$value"; fi; return 0; fi; done
 return 1; }; stdout() { printf -- "cat <<'EOM'\n%s\nEOM\n" "$1"; }; stderr() {
 printf -- "cat <<'EOM' >&2\n%s\nEOM\n" "$1"; }; error() {
 [[ -n $1 ]] && stderr "$1"; stderr "$usage"; _return 1; }; _return() {
-printf -- "exit %d\n" "$1"; exit "$1"; }; set -e; trimmed_doc=${DOC:1:1440}
-usage=${DOC:40:1169}; digest=3ce63
-shorts=(-h -s -e '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '')
-longs=(--help --stack --env --server --domain --app-name --pass --secrets --status --skip-check --force --no-tty --user --all)
-argcounts=(0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0); node_0(){ switch __help 0; }; node_1(){
-value __stack 1; }; node_2(){ value __env 2; }; node_3(){ value __server 3; }
-node_4(){ value __domain 4; }; node_5(){ value __app_name 5; }; node_6(){
-switch __pass 6; }; node_7(){ switch __secrets 7; }; node_8(){ switch __status 8
-}; node_9(){ switch __skip_check 9; }; node_10(){ switch __force 10; }
-node_11(){ switch __no_tty 11; }; node_12(){ value __user 12; }; node_13(){
-switch __all 13; }; node_14(){ value _type_ a; }; node_15(){ value _app_ a; }
-node_16(){ value _service_ a; }; node_17(){ value _src_ a; }; node_18(){
-value _dst_ a; }; node_19(){ value _args_ a true; }; node_20(){ value _secret_ a
-}; node_21(){ value _version_ a; }; node_22(){ value _cmd_ a; }; node_23(){
-value _data_ a; }; node_24(){ value _command_ a; }; node_25(){ value _host_ a; }
-node_26(){ value _user_ a; }; node_27(){ value _port_ a; }; node_28(){
-value _subcommands_ a true; }; node_29(){ _command app; }; node_30(){
-_command new; }; node_31(){ _command list; }; node_32(){ _command ls; }
-node_33(){ _command deploy; }; node_34(){ _command undeploy; }; node_35(){
-_command config; }; node_36(){ _command delete; }; node_37(){ _command rm; }
-node_38(){ _command logs; }; node_39(){ _command cp; }; node_40(){
-_command check; }; node_41(){ _command ps; }; node_42(){ _command run; }
-node_43(){ _command secret; }; node_44(){ _command generate; }; node_45(){
-_command insert; }; node_46(){ _command server; }; node_47(){ _command add; }
-node_48(){ _command init; }; node_49(){ _command apps; }; node_50(){
-_command upgrade; }; node_51(){ _command version; }; node_52(){ _command help; }
-node_53(){ optional 0 1 2; }; node_54(){ optional 53; }; node_55(){ optional 3
-}; node_56(){ optional 4; }; node_57(){ optional 5; }; node_58(){ optional 6; }
-node_59(){ optional 7; }; node_60(){ required 54 29 30 55 56 57 58 59 14; }
-node_61(){ either 31 32; }; node_62(){ required 61; }; node_63(){ optional 8; }
-node_64(){ required 54 29 62 63 55; }; node_65(){ optional 9; }; node_66(){
-required 54 29 15 33 65; }; node_67(){ required 54 29 15 34; }; node_68(){
-required 54 29 15 35; }; node_69(){ either 36 37; }; node_70(){ required 69; }
-node_71(){ optional 10; }; node_72(){ required 54 29 15 70 71; }; node_73(){
-optional 16; }; node_74(){ required 54 29 15 38 73; }; node_75(){
-required 54 29 15 39 17 18; }; node_76(){ required 54 29 15 40; }; node_77(){
-required 54 29 15 41; }; node_78(){ optional 11; }; node_79(){ optional 12; }
-node_80(){ oneormore 19; }; node_81(){ required 54 29 15 42 78 79 16 80; }
-node_82(){ required 20 21; }; node_83(){ either 82 13; }; node_84(){ required 83
-}; node_85(){ optional 22; }; node_86(){ required 54 29 15 43 44 84 85 58; }
-node_87(){ required 54 29 15 43 45 20 21 23 58; }; node_88(){ either 20 13; }
-node_89(){ required 88; }; node_90(){ required 54 29 15 43 70 89 58 71; }
-node_91(){ optional 80; }; node_92(){ required 54 29 15 24 91; }; node_93(){
-optional 26; }; node_94(){ optional 27; }; node_95(){ required 54 46 47 25 93 94
-}; node_96(){ required 54 46 62; }; node_97(){ required 54 46 25 37; }
-node_98(){ required 54 46 25 48; }; node_99(){ required 54 46 25 49 63; }
-node_100(){ required 54 50; }; node_101(){ required 54 51; }; node_102(){
-oneormore 28; }; node_103(){ optional 102; }; node_104(){ required 54 52 103; }
-node_105(){
-either 60 64 66 67 68 72 74 75 76 77 81 86 87 90 92 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 104
-}; node_106(){ required 105; }; cat <<<' docopt_exit() {
-[[ -n $1 ]] && printf "%s\n" "$1" >&2; printf "%s\n" "${DOC:40:1169}" >&2
-exit 1; }'; unset var___help var___stack var___env var___server var___domain \
-var___app_name var___pass var___secrets var___status var___skip_check \
-var___force var___no_tty var___user var___all var__type_ var__app_ \
-var__service_ var__src_ var__dst_ var__args_ var__secret_ var__version_ \
-var__cmd_ var__data_ var__command_ var__host_ var__user_ var__port_ \
-var__subcommands_ var_app var_new var_list var_ls var_deploy var_undeploy \
-var_config var_delete var_rm var_logs var_cp var_check var_ps var_run \
-var_secret var_generate var_insert var_server var_add var_init var_apps \
-var_upgrade var_version var_help; parse 106 "$@"
-local prefix=${DOCOPT_PREFIX:-''}; unset "${prefix}__help" "${prefix}__stack" \
-"${prefix}__env" "${prefix}__server" "${prefix}__domain" "${prefix}__app_name" \
-"${prefix}__pass" "${prefix}__secrets" "${prefix}__status" \
-"${prefix}__skip_check" "${prefix}__force" "${prefix}__no_tty" \
-"${prefix}__user" "${prefix}__all" "${prefix}_type_" "${prefix}_app_" \
-"${prefix}_service_" "${prefix}_src_" "${prefix}_dst_" "${prefix}_args_" \
-"${prefix}_secret_" "${prefix}_version_" "${prefix}_cmd_" "${prefix}_data_" \
-"${prefix}_command_" "${prefix}_host_" "${prefix}_user_" "${prefix}_port_" \
-"${prefix}_subcommands_" "${prefix}app" "${prefix}new" "${prefix}list" \
-"${prefix}ls" "${prefix}deploy" "${prefix}undeploy" "${prefix}config" \
-"${prefix}delete" "${prefix}rm" "${prefix}logs" "${prefix}cp" "${prefix}check" \
-"${prefix}ps" "${prefix}run" "${prefix}secret" "${prefix}generate" \
-"${prefix}insert" "${prefix}server" "${prefix}add" "${prefix}init" \
-"${prefix}apps" "${prefix}upgrade" "${prefix}version" "${prefix}help"
-eval "${prefix}"'__help=${var___help:-false}'
+printf -- "exit %d\n" "$1"; exit "$1"; }; set -e; trimmed_doc=${DOC:1:1696}
+usage=${DOC:40:1320}; digest=563d5
+shorts=(-h -s -e -U -C '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '' '')
+longs=(--help --stack --env --skip-update --skip-check --status --server --domain --app-name --pass --secrets --all --force --no-tty --user)
+argcounts=(0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1); node_0(){ switch __help 0; }
+node_1(){ value __stack 1; }; node_2(){ value __env 2; }; node_3(){
+switch __skip_update 3; }; node_4(){ switch __skip_check 4; }; node_5(){
+switch __status 5; }; node_6(){ value __server 6; }; node_7(){ value __domain 7
+}; node_8(){ value __app_name 8; }; node_9(){ switch __pass 9; }; node_10(){
+switch __secrets 10; }; node_11(){ switch __all 11; }; node_12(){
+switch __force 12; }; node_13(){ switch __no_tty 13; }; node_14(){
+value __user 14; }; node_15(){ value _type_ a; }; node_16(){ value _app_ a; }
+node_17(){ value _service_ a; }; node_18(){ value _src_ a; }; node_19(){
+value _dst_ a; }; node_20(){ value _backup_file_ a; }; node_21(){
+value _args_ a true; }; node_22(){ value _secret_ a; }; node_23(){
+value _version_ a; }; node_24(){ value _cmd_ a; }; node_25(){ value _data_ a; }
+node_26(){ value _command_ a; }; node_27(){ value _host_ a; }; node_28(){
+value _user_ a; }; node_29(){ value _port_ a; }; node_30(){
+value _subcommands_ a true; }; node_31(){ _command app; }; node_32(){
+_command list; }; node_33(){ _command ls; }; node_34(){ _command new; }
+node_35(){ _command backup; }; node_36(){ _command deploy; }; node_37(){
+_command check; }; node_38(){ _command config; }; node_39(){ _command cp; }
+node_40(){ _command logs; }; node_41(){ _command ps; }; node_42(){
+_command restore; }; node_43(){ _command rm; }; node_44(){ _command delete; }
+node_45(){ _command run; }; node_46(){ _command secret; }; node_47(){
+_command generate; }; node_48(){ _command insert; }; node_49(){
+_command undeploy; }; node_50(){ _command server; }; node_51(){ _command add; }
+node_52(){ _command init; }; node_53(){ _command apps; }; node_54(){
+_command upgrade; }; node_55(){ _command version; }; node_56(){ _command help; }
+node_57(){ optional 0 1 2 3 4; }; node_58(){ optional 57; }; node_59(){
+either 32 33; }; node_60(){ required 59; }; node_61(){ optional 5; }; node_62(){
+optional 6; }; node_63(){ required 58 31 60 61 62; }; node_64(){ optional 7; }
+node_65(){ optional 8; }; node_66(){ optional 9; }; node_67(){ optional 10; }
+node_68(){ required 58 31 34 62 64 65 66 67 15; }; node_69(){ either 17 11; }
+node_70(){ required 69; }; node_71(){ required 58 31 16 35 70; }; node_72(){
+required 58 31 16 36; }; node_73(){ required 58 31 16 37; }; node_74(){
+required 58 31 16 38; }; node_75(){ required 58 31 16 39 18 19; }; node_76(){
+optional 17; }; node_77(){ required 58 31 16 40 76; }; node_78(){
+required 58 31 16 41; }; node_79(){ required 58 31 16 42 70; }; node_80(){
+either 43 44; }; node_81(){ required 80; }; node_82(){ optional 12; }
+node_83(){ required 58 31 16 81 82; }; node_84(){ optional 20; }; node_85(){
+required 58 31 16 42 17 84; }; node_86(){ optional 13; }; node_87(){ optional 14
+}; node_88(){ oneormore 21; }; node_89(){ required 58 31 16 45 86 87 17 88; }
+node_90(){ required 22 23; }; node_91(){ either 90 11; }; node_92(){ required 91
+}; node_93(){ optional 24; }; node_94(){ required 58 31 16 46 47 92 93 66; }
+node_95(){ required 58 31 16 46 48 22 23 25 66; }; node_96(){ either 22 11; }
+node_97(){ required 96; }; node_98(){ required 58 31 16 46 81 97 66 82; }
+node_99(){ required 58 31 16 49; }; node_100(){ optional 88; }; node_101(){
+required 58 31 16 26 100; }; node_102(){ optional 28; }; node_103(){ optional 29
+}; node_104(){ required 58 50 51 27 102 103; }; node_105(){ required 58 50 60; }
+node_106(){ required 58 50 27 43; }; node_107(){ required 58 50 27 52; }
+node_108(){ required 58 50 27 53 61; }; node_109(){ required 58 54; }
+node_110(){ required 58 55; }; node_111(){ oneormore 30; }; node_112(){
+optional 111; }; node_113(){ required 58 56 112; }; node_114(){
+either 63 68 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 83 85 89 94 95 98 99 101 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 113
+}; node_115(){ required 114; }; cat <<<' docopt_exit() {
+[[ -n $1 ]] && printf "%s\n" "$1" >&2; printf "%s\n" "${DOC:40:1320}" >&2
+exit 1; }'; unset var___help var___stack var___env var___skip_update \
+var___skip_check var___status var___server var___domain var___app_name \
+var___pass var___secrets var___all var___force var___no_tty var___user \
+var__type_ var__app_ var__service_ var__src_ var__dst_ var__backup_file_ \
+var__args_ var__secret_ var__version_ var__cmd_ var__data_ var__command_ \
+var__host_ var__user_ var__port_ var__subcommands_ var_app var_list var_ls \
+var_new var_backup var_deploy var_check var_config var_cp var_logs var_ps \
+var_restore var_rm var_delete var_run var_secret var_generate var_insert \
+var_undeploy var_server var_add var_init var_apps var_upgrade var_version \
+var_help; parse 115 "$@"; local prefix=${DOCOPT_PREFIX:-''}
+unset "${prefix}__help" "${prefix}__stack" "${prefix}__env" \
+"${prefix}__skip_update" "${prefix}__skip_check" "${prefix}__status" \
+"${prefix}__server" "${prefix}__domain" "${prefix}__app_name" \
+"${prefix}__pass" "${prefix}__secrets" "${prefix}__all" "${prefix}__force" \
+"${prefix}__no_tty" "${prefix}__user" "${prefix}_type_" "${prefix}_app_" \
+"${prefix}_service_" "${prefix}_src_" "${prefix}_dst_" \
+"${prefix}_backup_file_" "${prefix}_args_" "${prefix}_secret_" \
+"${prefix}_version_" "${prefix}_cmd_" "${prefix}_data_" "${prefix}_command_" \
+"${prefix}_host_" "${prefix}_user_" "${prefix}_port_" "${prefix}_subcommands_" \
+"${prefix}app" "${prefix}list" "${prefix}ls" "${prefix}new" "${prefix}backup" \
+"${prefix}deploy" "${prefix}check" "${prefix}config" "${prefix}cp" \
+"${prefix}logs" "${prefix}ps" "${prefix}restore" "${prefix}rm" \
+"${prefix}delete" "${prefix}run" "${prefix}secret" "${prefix}generate" \
+"${prefix}insert" "${prefix}undeploy" "${prefix}server" "${prefix}add" \
+"${prefix}init" "${prefix}apps" "${prefix}upgrade" "${prefix}version" \
+"${prefix}help"; eval "${prefix}"'__help=${var___help:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__stack=${var___stack:-}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__env=${var___env:-}'
+eval "${prefix}"'__skip_update=${var___skip_update:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'__skip_check=${var___skip_check:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'__status=${var___status:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__server=${var___server:-}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__domain=${var___domain:-}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__app_name=${var___app_name:-}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__pass=${var___pass:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__secrets=${var___secrets:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'__status=${var___status:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'__skip_check=${var___skip_check:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'__all=${var___all:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__force=${var___force:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__no_tty=${var___no_tty:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'__user=${var___user:-}'
-eval "${prefix}"'__all=${var___all:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'_type_=${var__type_:-}'; eval "${prefix}"'_app_=${var__app_:-}'
 eval "${prefix}"'_service_=${var__service_:-}'
 eval "${prefix}"'_src_=${var__src_:-}'; eval "${prefix}"'_dst_=${var__dst_:-}'
+eval "${prefix}"'_backup_file_=${var__backup_file_:-}'
 if declare -p var__args_ >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 eval "${prefix}"'_args_=("${var__args_[@]}")'; else eval "${prefix}"'_args_=()'
 fi; eval "${prefix}"'_secret_=${var__secret_:-}'
@@ -247,19 +261,22 @@ eval "${prefix}"'_port_=${var__port_:-}'
 if declare -p var__subcommands_ >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 eval "${prefix}"'_subcommands_=("${var__subcommands_[@]}")'; else
 eval "${prefix}"'_subcommands_=()'; fi; eval "${prefix}"'app=${var_app:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'new=${var_new:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'list=${var_list:-false}'; eval "${prefix}"'ls=${var_ls:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'new=${var_new:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'backup=${var_backup:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'deploy=${var_deploy:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'undeploy=${var_undeploy:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'config=${var_config:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'delete=${var_delete:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'rm=${var_rm:-false}'; eval "${prefix}"'logs=${var_logs:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'cp=${var_cp:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'check=${var_check:-false}'
-eval "${prefix}"'ps=${var_ps:-false}'; eval "${prefix}"'run=${var_run:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'config=${var_config:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'cp=${var_cp:-false}'; eval "${prefix}"'logs=${var_logs:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'ps=${var_ps:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'restore=${var_restore:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'rm=${var_rm:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'delete=${var_delete:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'run=${var_run:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'secret=${var_secret:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'generate=${var_generate:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'insert=${var_insert:-false}'
+eval "${prefix}"'undeploy=${var_undeploy:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'server=${var_server:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'add=${var_add:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'init=${var_init:-false}'
@@ -269,19 +286,21 @@ eval "${prefix}"'version=${var_version:-false}'
 eval "${prefix}"'help=${var_help:-false}'; local docopt_i=1
 [[ $BASH_VERSION =~ ^4.3 ]] && docopt_i=2; for ((;docopt_i>0;docopt_i--)); do
 declare -p "${prefix}__help" "${prefix}__stack" "${prefix}__env" \
+"${prefix}__skip_update" "${prefix}__skip_check" "${prefix}__status" \
 "${prefix}__server" "${prefix}__domain" "${prefix}__app_name" \
-"${prefix}__pass" "${prefix}__secrets" "${prefix}__status" \
-"${prefix}__skip_check" "${prefix}__force" "${prefix}__no_tty" \
-"${prefix}__user" "${prefix}__all" "${prefix}_type_" "${prefix}_app_" \
-"${prefix}_service_" "${prefix}_src_" "${prefix}_dst_" "${prefix}_args_" \
-"${prefix}_secret_" "${prefix}_version_" "${prefix}_cmd_" "${prefix}_data_" \
-"${prefix}_command_" "${prefix}_host_" "${prefix}_user_" "${prefix}_port_" \
-"${prefix}_subcommands_" "${prefix}app" "${prefix}new" "${prefix}list" \
-"${prefix}ls" "${prefix}deploy" "${prefix}undeploy" "${prefix}config" \
-"${prefix}delete" "${prefix}rm" "${prefix}logs" "${prefix}cp" "${prefix}check" \
-"${prefix}ps" "${prefix}run" "${prefix}secret" "${prefix}generate" \
-"${prefix}insert" "${prefix}server" "${prefix}add" "${prefix}init" \
-"${prefix}apps" "${prefix}upgrade" "${prefix}version" "${prefix}help"; done; }
+"${prefix}__pass" "${prefix}__secrets" "${prefix}__all" "${prefix}__force" \
+"${prefix}__no_tty" "${prefix}__user" "${prefix}_type_" "${prefix}_app_" \
+"${prefix}_service_" "${prefix}_src_" "${prefix}_dst_" \
+"${prefix}_backup_file_" "${prefix}_args_" "${prefix}_secret_" \
+"${prefix}_version_" "${prefix}_cmd_" "${prefix}_data_" "${prefix}_command_" \
+"${prefix}_host_" "${prefix}_user_" "${prefix}_port_" "${prefix}_subcommands_" \
+"${prefix}app" "${prefix}list" "${prefix}ls" "${prefix}new" "${prefix}backup" \
+"${prefix}deploy" "${prefix}check" "${prefix}config" "${prefix}cp" \
+"${prefix}logs" "${prefix}ps" "${prefix}restore" "${prefix}rm" \
+"${prefix}delete" "${prefix}run" "${prefix}secret" "${prefix}generate" \
+"${prefix}insert" "${prefix}undeploy" "${prefix}server" "${prefix}add" \
+"${prefix}init" "${prefix}apps" "${prefix}upgrade" "${prefix}version" \
+"${prefix}help"; done; }
 # docopt parser above, complete command for generating this parser is `docopt.sh abra`
 
 PROGRAM_NAME=$(basename "$0")
@@ -347,7 +366,9 @@ require_app_latest() {
     success "Fetched app configuration via Git"
   fi
 
-  cd "$APP_DIR" && git pull > /dev/null 2>&1
+  if [ "$abra___skip_update" = "false" ]; then
+    cd "$APP_DIR" && git pull > /dev/null 2>&1
+  fi
 }
 
 # FIXME 3wc: update or remove
@@ -670,15 +691,49 @@ sub_app_new (){
   echo "    abra app $APP_NAME deploy$(tput sgr0)"
 }
 
+###### .. app backup
+sub_app_backup (){
+  load_instance
+  load_instance_env
+
+  require_app_latest "$TYPE"
+
+  # Add _<service> if it's defined
+  FUNCTION="abra_backup${abra__service_:+_}$abra__service_"
+
+  if ! type "$FUNCTION" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    error "'$TYPE' doesn't know how to do ${abra__service_}${abra__service_:+ }backups."\
+      "See $GIT_URL$TYPE/issues/"
+  fi
+
+  mkdir -p "$ABRA_DIR/backups"
+
+  $FUNCTION
+}
+
+###### .. app restore
+sub_app_restore (){
+  load_instance
+  load_instance_env
+
+  require_app_latest "$TYPE"
+
+  FUNCTION="abra_restore_$abra__service_"
+
+  if ! type "$FUNCTION" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    error "'$TYPE' doesn't know how to restore '${abra__service_}' backups."\
+      "See $GIT_URL$TYPE/issues/"
+  fi
+
+  $FUNCTION "$abra__backup_file_"
+}
+
 ###### .. app deploy
 help_app_deploy (){
   echo "abra [options] app <domain> deploy [--skip-check]
 
 Deploy app <domain> to the configured server.
 
-OPTIONS
-  --skip-check    Don't check whether app definition is up-to-date first
-
 POWERED BY
   docker stack deploy -c compose.yml <app>"
 }
@@ -689,10 +744,6 @@ sub_app_deploy (){
 
   require_app_latest "$TYPE"
 
-  if [ "$abra___skip_check" == "false" ]; then
-    sub_app_check
-  fi
-
   echo "About to deploy:"
   echo "  Server: $(tput setaf 4)${SERVER}$(tput sgr0)"
   if [ "${COMPOSE_FILE/:/}" == "${COMPOSE_FILE}" ]; then
@@ -795,12 +846,14 @@ Make sure that all an app's required variables are set."
 }
 
 sub_app_check (){
+  if [ "$abra___skip_check" = "true" ]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
   load_instance
   load_instance_env
 
-  #APP_ENV=$(grep -v '^#' "$ENV_FILE" | sed 's/^.* \([^=]\+\)=.*/\1/' | sort)
   APP_ENV=$(grep -v '^#' "$ENV_FILE" | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d'=' -f1 | sort)
-  #STACK_ENV=$(grep -v '^#' "$APP_DIR/.env.sample" | sed 's/^.* \([^=]\+\)=.*/\1/' | sort)
   STACK_ENV=$(grep -v '^#' "$APP_DIR/.env.sample" | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d'=' -f1 | sort)
 
   # Only show "1", items in STACK_ENV which aren't in APP_ENV
@@ -1348,8 +1401,9 @@ abra() {
     abra__secret_ abra__version_ abra__data_ abra___user abra__host_ \
     abra__type_ abra__port_ abra__user_ abra__service_ abra__src_ abra__dst_ \
     abra___server abra___domain abra___force abra___pass \
-    abra___secrets abra___status abra___no_tty abra___skip_check \
-    abra__subcommands_ abra___app_name
+    abra___secrets abra___status abra___no_tty abra___app_name \
+    abra__subcommands_ abra___skip_update abra___skip_check \
+    abra__backup_file_
 
   if ! type tput > /dev/null 2>&1; then
     tput() {