zinc

zinc command [options] [arguments]

--url
    Specifies the URL of the ZincSearch server to connect to. E.g., http://localhost:4080

--username
    Sets the username for authenticating with the ZincSearch server.

--password
    Provides the password for authentication with the ZincSearch server.

--output-format
    Defines the output format for command results. Common formats include json, yaml, or text.

--config
    Specifies an alternative configuration file for Zinc CLI settings, overriding default values.

-h, --help
    Displays the help message for the zinc command or a specific subcommand.

-v, --version
    Shows the current version of the Zinc CLI tool.

Zinc, invoked via the zinc command, is a powerful command-line interface (CLI) for interacting with a ZincSearch server. ZincSearch is an open-source, full-text search engine designed to be a lightweight alternative to more complex search solutions. The zinc CLI allows users to perform a wide range of operations directly from the terminal, including managing search indexes (creating, listing, deleting), ingesting and manipulating documents, executing search queries, and retrieving server status. It provides a programmatic and scriptable way to administer the ZincSearch engine, making it invaluable for developers and system administrators who need to automate tasks, integrate with other systems, or perform quick data operations without relying on a graphical user interface or direct API calls. While it's a client-side tool, its robust functionality makes it a central component for managing ZincSearch deployments.

The zinc command is a client-side tool and requires a running ZincSearch server to be fully functional. It is typically installed via pip (as part of the zinc-cli Python package) or specific distribution packages, and is not a standard utility bundled with most Linux distributions by default. Its functionality is entirely dependent on the availability and configuration of the ZincSearch server. Users should also note that subcommands and their specific options can vary; using --help with specific subcommands is often necessary for detailed usage information.

The zinc command operates through a variety of subcommands, each designed for specific categories of operations. These subcommands often have their own unique sets of options and arguments. To explore the options for a specific subcommand, use zinc subcommand --help.

Some common subcommands include:

• zinc index create index_name: Creates a new search index on the server.
• zinc document put index_name document_id -d '{"key":"value"}': Adds or updates a single document within a specified index.
• zinc document bulk index_name -i data.json: Ingests multiple documents from a file into an index.
• zinc query search index_name -q 'search term': Executes a full-text search query against an index.
• zinc server info: Retrieves detailed information and status about the connected ZincSearch server.

The zinc command, specifically referring to the zinc-cli tool, emerged as a dedicated command-line interface for the ZincSearch project. ZincSearch itself was developed as an open-source, self-hosted full-text search engine, aiming to provide a more lightweight and simpler alternative to established solutions like Elasticsearch. The CLI was created to facilitate scriptable and direct interaction with ZincSearch servers, addressing the need for automation of administrative tasks, data ingestion, and querying without the overhead of a web UI or direct API calls. Its development closely mirrors the evolution and adoption of the ZincSearch engine, serving as a crucial component in its ecosystem for efficient management and operation.

curl(1), jq(1), grep(1), python(1)