[pdimitar]

Sorry if my question is misguided: did you try SQLite3's native online backup API? I would not use raw file access knowing they have that.

[rfc2324]

I'm aware of it but was wanted to create something that I can just quickly point at a running system and make a backup. This is a narrower use case and I accept that it's not for everyone.

[pdimitar]

I understand but in this case the quicker solution has potentially fatal flaws.

With time I have learned to speed-run less things because I've been bitten by the quick and dirty solution probably at least 100 times.