aria2 - Lightweight Command-Line Download Tool

Overview

aria2 is a lightweight, multi-protocol, multi-source command-line download tool. It supports HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, BitTorrent, and Metalink protocols, and can be remotely controlled via built-in JSON-RPC and XML-RPC interfaces. aria2 is renowned for its efficiency, low resource consumption, and powerful features, making it an ideal choice for tech enthusiasts and developers.

Features

🚀 Multi-Connection Downloads

• Multi-source, multi-protocol support: Download the same file simultaneously from multiple sources and protocols to maximize bandwidth utilization
• Accelerated download experience: Significantly improve download speed through parallel connections, especially suitable for large files

⚡ Lightweight and Efficient

• Low memory usage: Physical memory usage is typically 4MB (HTTP/FTP) to 9MB (BitTorrent) when disk cache is disabled
• Low CPU consumption: BitTorrent CPU usage is approximately 6% at a download speed of 2.8MB/sec
• Cross-platform support: Binary versions available for macOS, Windows, and Android

🧲 Full-featured BitTorrent Client

• Complete functionality: Includes DHT, PEX, encryption, Magnet URI, Web-Seeding, and other mainstream features
• Advanced features: Selective downloading, local peer discovery, and UDP tracker support

🔗 Metalink Integration

• Format support: Supports Metalink v4, Metalink v3, and Metalink/HTTP
• Smart verification: Provides file verification functionality
• Protocol integration: Supports integration of HTTP/FTP/SFTP/BitTorrent protocols
• Flexible configuration: Supports diverse configurations based on language, geographic location, and operating system

🎮 Remote Control

• RPC interface: Supports JSON-RPC (via HTTP and WebSocket) and XML-RPC
• Flexible control: Enables remote control of aria2 processes, facilitating integration and automation

Usage Examples

Although aria2 is a command-line tool, it is very easy to use:

Download from a web page:

aria2c http://example.org/mylinux.iso

Download from two sources:

aria2c http://a/f.iso ftp://b/f.iso

Use 2 connections per host:

aria2c -x2 http://a/f.iso

BitTorrent download:

aria2c http://example.org/mylinux.torrent

Magnet URI download:

aria2c 'magnet:?xt=urn:btih:248D0A1CD08284299DE78D5C1ED359BB46717D8C'

Metalink download:

Download URIs from a text file:

aria2c -i uris.txt

Related Projects

Wrapper Tools

• apt-metalink: Provides faster package downloads for Debian/Ubuntu
• powerpill: Parallel and segmented download wrapper for Pacman
• python3-aria2jsonrpc: Python wrapper for aria2 JSON-RPC interface
• aria2.js: JavaScript library and CLI for browser and Node.js

User Interface Frontends

• webui-aria2: Web browser interface for aria2 (2012 GSOC project)
• uGet: Download manager for Linux

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2 or later. It is free software, allowing users to freely redistribute and modify it.

Advantages Summary

1. Extremely lightweight: Minimal resource usage, ideal for long-term operation on servers or low-spec devices
2. Full protocol coverage: Supports all mainstream download protocols, solving diverse download needs in one tool
3. Highly customizable: Rich command-line options and RPC interface satisfy automation requirements
4. Rich community ecosystem: Numerous third-party interfaces and integration tools available
5. Completely free and open-source: Licensed under GPL, allowing free use and modification

Although aria2 requires some command-line proficiency, its powerful features and flexibility make it a powerful download tool for advanced users. When paired with various front-end interfaces, even ordinary users can easily enjoy its high-speed download experience.