LinuxCommandLibrary

quickget

Download files from the internet easily

TLDR

Display the list of all supported guest operating systems, versions and variants

$ quickget list
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Download and create the virtual machine configuration for building a Quickemu virtual machine for an OS
$ quickget [os] [release] [edition]
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Download configuration for a Windows 11 VM with VirtIO drivers for Windows
$ quickget windows 11
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Download a macOS recovery image and creates a virtual machine configuration
$ quickget macos [mojave|catalina|big-sur|monterey|ventura|sonoma]
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Show an ISO URL for an operating system
$ quickget --url fedora [release] [edition]
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Test if an ISO file is available for an operating system
$ quickget --check nixos [release] [edition]
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Download an image without building any VM configuration
$ quickget --download [os] [release] [edition]
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Create a VM configuration for an OS image
$ quickget --create-config [os] [path/to/iso]
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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.

SEE ALSO

wget(1), curl(1), rsync(1), scp(1)

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