Akeeba Solo and Akeeba Backup can be used for much more than just backup. Some indicative uses are:
Security backups. Taking a snapshot of your site / application should your server fail, or a hacker exploit some security hole to deface or compromise your site.
Template sites. Web professionals can use Akeeba Solo and Akeeba Backup in order to create "template sites". This means that you can build a site on a local server, configure it the way you usually do on most clients' sites and back it up. You now have a canned site that can serve as a great template for future clients. Using the same method you can have a snapshot of all the sites you have built for your clients, without the need to have them installed on your local server.
Build a site off-line, upload the finished site easily. Web professionals can build a complete site off-line on a local server and when done take a snapshot with Akeeba Solo or Akeeba Backup, then restore it on the production site.
Testing upgrades locally, without risking breaking the on-line site. Application updates have the potential of breaking things, especially in complex sites. Web masters can use Akeeba Solo or Akeeba Backup to get a site snapshot, restore it on a local test server, perform the upgrade there and test for any problems without the live site being at risk.
Debugging locally. Almost the same as above, web professionals can use Akeeba Solo or Akeeba Backup to take a snapshot of a client's site in order to perform bug hunting. Using Akeeba Solo or Akeeba Backup again, they can upload the fixed site back on the live server.
Relocating a site to a new host. Web masters who want to take their site to a new host will find Akeeba Solo or Akeeba Backup to be a great tool. Just backup the original site and restore on the new host; presto, your site is relocated with virtually no effort at all.
Akeeba Solo has the potential to save you hours of hard labour, according to our users. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or, at your option, any later version of the license. As a result, you are free to modify it to your liking and install it on as many sites as you like without having to pay for a pricey "developer's license".