;; configure backups
(setq backup-directory-alist '(("." . "~/.emacs.d/backups/")
                               ("/dev/shm" . "/dev/null"))
      backup-by-copying t
      delete-old-versions t
      kept-new-versions 16
      kept-old-versions 8
      version-control t
      tramp-backup-directory-alist backup-directory-alist)