How to use the command `ia` (with examples)

Command ia is a command-line tool that allows users to interact with the archive.org website. It is a powerful tool that provides several functions for uploading, downloading, and managing items on the Archive.

Use case 1: Configure ia with API keys

Code:

ia configure

Motivation: Configuring ia with API keys is the first step to enable full functionality of the command-line tool. Without proper configuration, some functions may not work as expected. The API keys allow the user to authenticate their requests to the Archive.

Explanation: This command configures the ia tool with the necessary API keys. It prompts the user to enter their keys and stores them for future use. Once configured, the user can perform actions that require authentication.

Example output:

Internet Archive Command Line Tool Configuration
-----------------------------------------------

Enter the access key: *****************
Enter the secret key: *****************

Configuration saved to /home/user/.config/ia.ini

Use case 2: Upload one or more items to archive.org

Code:

ia upload identifier path/to/file --metadata="mediatype:data" --metadata="title:example"

Motivation: Uploading items to archive.org allows users to preserve and share content with the Archive. This can be valuable for archiving important data, preserving historical content, or sharing works with a wider audience.

Explanation: This command uploads a file or multiple files to the Archive. The identifier is a unique name given to the uploaded item, and the path/to/file specifies the local path to the file that will be uploaded. The --metadata option is used to provide additional information about the item being uploaded, such as its media type and title.

Example output:

Uploading item...
Item uploaded successfully.
Identifier: example-item
URL: https://archive.org/details/example-item

Use case 3: Download one or more items from archive.org

Code:

ia download item

Motivation: Downloading items from archive.org allows users to retrieve content that has been archived. This can be useful for accessing historical data, obtaining media for research purposes, or retrieving personal content that was previously uploaded.

Explanation: This command downloads an item or multiple items from the Archive. The item is the identifier of the item to be downloaded. The command retrieves the content from the Archive and saves it locally.

Example output:

Downloading item...
Item downloaded successfully.
Download location: /home/user/downloads/example-item

Use case 4: Delete one or more items from archive.org

Code:

ia delete identifier file

Motivation: Deleting items from archive.org allows users to remove content that is no longer needed or relevant. This can help in managing the items in their collection and keeping it organized.

Explanation: This command deletes an item or multiple items from the Archive. The identifier is the unique name of the item to be deleted. The file argument is optional and specifies a file within the item to be deleted. If the file argument is not provided, the entire item will be deleted.

Example output:

Deleting item...
Item deleted successfully.

Use case 5: Search on archive.org, returning results as JSON

Code:

ia search 'subject:"subject" collection:collection'

Motivation: Searching on archive.org allows users to find specific items or collections based on various criteria. The ability to retrieve results as JSON provides a structured format that can be easily processed and parsed for further analysis or integration with other tools.

Explanation: This command searches the Archive based on specified search criteria. In this example, the search is performed with the condition that the item must have a subject matching “subject” and be part of the collection named “collection”. The results are returned in JSON format.

Example output:

{
  "num_found": 2,
  "items": [
    {
      "identifier": "example-item1",
      "title": "Example Item 1",
      "creator": "John Doe",
      "date": "2022-01-01",
      "url": "https://archive.org/details/example-item1"
    },
    {
      "identifier": "example-item2",
      "title": "Example Item 2",
      "creator": "Jane Smith",
      "date": "2022-02-01",
      "url": "https://archive.org/details/example-item2"
    }
  ]
}

Conclusion:

The ia command-line tool provides a convenient way to interact with the archive.org website. It allows users to upload, download, delete items, and perform searches on the Archive. With the provided examples, users can get started with using the ia command effectively.