quickget
Download files from the internet easily
TLDR
Display the list of all supported guest operating systems, versions and variants
Download and create the virtual machine configuration for building a Quickemu virtual machine for an OS
Download configuration for a Windows 11 VM with VirtIO drivers for Windows
Download a macOS recovery image and creates a virtual machine configuration
Show an ISO URL for an operating system
Test if an ISO file is available for an operating system
Download an image without building any VM configuration
Create a VM configuration for an OS image
SYNOPSIS
quickget [OPTIONS] URL [OUTPUT_PATH]
PARAMETERS
-o, --output FILE
Specify the filename to save the downloaded content as. If not provided, quickget typically infers the filename from the URL.
-P, --directory DIR
Specify the directory where the downloaded file should be saved. The directory must exist.
-q, --quiet
Suppress all output during the download process, showing only errors if they occur.
-v, --verbose
Enable verbose output, displaying detailed information about the download progress, HTTP headers, and potential issues.
-c, --continue
Attempt to resume an interrupted or incomplete download. This is useful for large files or unstable connections.
--no-clobber
Prevent overwriting an existing file at the destination path. If the file already exists, the download will typically be skipped.
-h, --help
Display a brief help message and exit.
DESCRIPTION
quickget is not a standard, universally distributed Linux command, but rather a hypothetical or custom script often created as a convenience wrapper around more powerful utilities like wget or curl.
Its primary purpose is to simplify common file download operations, providing a user-friendly interface that abstracts away the often complex syntax of its underlying tools. Users would typically employ quickget for quick, ad-hoc downloads of files from specified URLs, such as configuration files, small scripts, or documents, without needing to remember numerous options or lengthy command structures.
It aims to streamline the process, making it faster and less error-prone for everyday use by providing sensible defaults and only exposing the most commonly used options. While its exact features can vary depending on its implementation, the core idea is to make web content retrieval 'quick' and 'get' straight to the point.
CAVEATS
quickget is not a standard utility found in most Linux distributions' core packages. It is typically a custom script or part of specialized environments (e.g., Puppy Linux, EasyOS, or personal utility collections).
As such, its specific behavior, available options, and underlying implementation (e.g., whether it uses wget or curl) can vary significantly. Users should be aware that a quickget command might not exist on all systems, or its functionality may differ from this general description. Always exercise caution when downloading files from untrusted sources, regardless of the command used.
IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS
The typical implementation of quickget is a simple shell script (e.g., Bash) that parses its own command-line arguments and then constructs and executes commands using powerful external tools like wget or curl. This design choice makes it highly flexible and adaptable, but also means its precise behavior and any limitations are entirely dependent on the specific script's author and its underlying dependencies.
TYPICAL USE CASES
While general file downloading is its core, quickget scripts are often tailored for specific, repetitive tasks. This could include fetching system updates from a dedicated server, downloading specific application configurations, retrieving small utility scripts from a version control system, or quickly grabbing multimedia files. Its simplicity makes it ideal for inclusion in automated scripts or for users who prefer minimal typing for common tasks.
HISTORY
Given its non-standard nature, quickget has no formal, documented history as a universal command. Instead, it likely originated as a practical shell script born out of the need for simplified web content retrieval within various Linux communities or by individual users seeking to create personal shortcuts.
Its development focus has always been on user convenience, abstracting the often verbose options of wget or curl for common download scenarios. It represents a user-centric approach to scripting, prioritizing ease of use over comprehensive functionality, and thus its 'history' is more a collection of similar, independently developed utility scripts than a single evolving project.