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Hot backup database in WAL mode by coping
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If you have a file X that is 1 MiB in size, and you make a copy of it, you now have 2 x 1 MiB files.

Why does the method of copy matter? If you use copy or cp or backup API or VACUUM, I am not sure I understand the difference. Is it just because of "live DB + journal" overhead you briefly have twice as much as you want?