How to Use the Command 'quickget' (with Examples)

The quickget command is a versatile tool designed to simplify the process of downloading and preparing materials necessary for building a Quickemu virtual machine. Quickemu is a popular software that allows users to run virtual machines with ease. With quickget, users can effortlessly download operating systems, create configuration files, and manage virtual machine settings. This guide will walk you through various use cases of the quickget command, providing detailed explanations and motivations for each scenario.

Use case 1: Display the list of all supported guest operating systems, versions, and variants

Code:

quickget list

Motivation:
Understanding the range of available guest operating systems is crucial for planning your virtual infrastructure. By displaying all supported OS options, users can make informed decisions about which systems to utilize, whether for testing, development, or deployment purposes.

Explanation:

• quickget: The main command used to interface with the Quickemu project, allowing users to manage virtual machine downloads and configurations.
• list: This argument prompts the command to output a comprehensive list of all supported guest operating systems, along with their respective versions and variants. It serves as a quick reference for users to explore what’s available.

Example Output:

Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows 10, Windows 11
- macOS Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey
- Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04
- Fedora 35, 36
- ...other entries...

Use case 2: Download and create the virtual machine configuration for building a Quickemu virtual machine for an OS

Code:

quickget os release edition

Motivation:
When setting up a new virtual machine, it is beneficial to have both the OS image and its configuration ready to go. This command automates the download of the necessary files and prepares the machine’s configuration, streamlining the setup process and reducing manual intervention.

Explanation:

• quickget: The primary command for operating with Quickemu-related tasks.
• os: Replace os with the desired operating system’s name, e.g., ubuntu.
• release: Specify the particular release version of the OS, such as 20.04 for Ubuntu.
• edition (optional): Designates a specific edition of the OS if applicable, allowing for precise customization, like specifying server for a server edition.

Example Output:

Downloading Ubuntu 20.04...
Configuration file created: ubuntu-20.04.conf
Download complete. Ready to launch your virtual machine.

Use case 3: Download configuration for a Windows 11 VM with VirtIO drivers for Windows

Code:

quickget windows 11

Motivation:
Running a Windows 11 virtual machine with VirtIO drivers enhances performance by providing better disk and network throughput. It’s particularly useful in a virtualized environment where efficiency and performance are paramount, such as in development or testing environments.

Explanation:

• quickget: The command used to interact with the Quickemu suite.
• windows: This argument specifies the operating system as Windows.
• 11: Defines the release version, indicating that the user wants Windows 11. The command implicitly includes downloading VirtIO drivers suited for Windows 11 VMs.

Example Output:

Downloading Windows 11 image and VirtIO drivers...
Configuration file created: windows-11.conf
Setup complete. Your Windows 11 VM is ready for use.

Use case 4: Download a macOS recovery image and create a virtual machine configuration

Code:

quickget macos mojave|catalina|big-sur|monterey|ventura|sonoma

Motivation:
For developers and testers working on Apple platforms, being able to quickly set up a macOS VM is essential for application development, testing, and debugging across different macOS versions. This functionality provides an efficient method to emulate Apple environments without individual licenses or physical hardware.

Explanation:

• quickget: The standard command for managing Quickemu downloads and configurations.
• macos: Specifies the target operating system as macOS.
• mojave|catalina|big-sur|monterey|ventura|sonoma: Represents the different macOS versions available. By specifying one, e.g., big-sur, the command will download the recovery image and create a configuration for that particular macOS version.

Example Output:

Downloading macOS Big Sur recovery image...
Configuration file created: macos-big-sur.conf
Your macOS Big Sur virtual machine is ready to be launched.

Use case 5: Show an ISO URL for an operating system

Code:

quickget --url fedora release edition

Motivation:
In some scenarios, users may wish to manually download an ISO file due to network restrictions or for use outside the Quickemu ecosystem. By providing the ISO URL, users have the flexibility to download and manage the ISO file according to their specific requirements.

Explanation:

• quickget: The command for interfacing with Quickemu functionalities.
• --url: A flag used to retrieve the ISO download URL instead of performing a download or configuration.
• fedora: Indicates the operating system, in this case, Fedora.
• release: Specifies the version or release, such as 36.
• edition (optional): Allows for further specification, like workstation or server.

Example Output:

ISO URL for Fedora 36:
https://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/releases/36/Workstation/x86_64/iso/Fedora-Workstation-Live-x86_64-36.iso

Use case 6: Test if an ISO file is available for an operating system

Code:

quickget --check nixos release edition

Motivation:
Before initiating a download or deployment plan, confirming the availability of a specific ISO is crucial for ensuring that resources and time are not wasted on unavailable files. This preliminary check can help streamline project planning and execution processes.

Explanation:

• quickget: Functions as the main command to perform operations related to Quickemu.
• --check: A flag used to verify the existence of a particular ISO file.
• nixos: Represents the target operating system, in this case, NixOS.
• release: Denotes the specific release version desired.
• edition (optional): Allows for additional specification, such as choosing between different flavors or editions of the OS.

Example Output:

Checking ISO availability for NixOS 21.05...
ISO is available for download.

Use case 7: Download an image without building any VM configuration

Code:

quickget --download os release edition

Motivation:
At times, users may only require the OS image itself for purposes other than immediately creating a virtual machine, such as archiving, further customization, or use in other virtualization programs. This command focuses solely on acquiring the OS image.

Explanation:

• quickget: Utilized to manage Quickemu-related assets and duties.
• --download: A directive to download the ISO or recovery image without generating a configuration.
• os: The operating system to be downloaded, like debian.
• release: Indicates the specific version or iteration, e.g., 11.
• edition (optional): Specifies the exact edition if multiple are available.

Example Output:

Downloading Debian 11 image...
Download complete. You can find the image at: /path/to/downloaded/debian-11.iso

Use case 8: Create a VM configuration for an OS image

Code:

quickget --create-config os path/to/iso

Motivation:
Users who may already have an existing ISO file, either downloaded through other means or previously archived, can use this command to generate the configuration necessary to get a virtual machine up and running quickly. This saves time and ensures consistency in VM setup.

Explanation:

• quickget: The command that enables Quickemu operations.
• --create-config: A flag that instructs the command to create only the configuration file using a specified ISO path.
• os: The intended operating system for the virtual machine, such as archlinux.
• path/to/iso: The exact filesystem path to the ISO file, indicating where the image is stored.

Example Output:

Creating configuration for Arch Linux using archlinux.iso...
Configuration file created: archlinux-vm.conf
VM configuration is ready. Proceed to launch the virtual machine.

Conclusion

The quickget command serves as a powerful and flexible tool for managing virtual machine lifecycles within the Quickemu ecosystem. From acquiring images and generating configurations to checking availability and fetching ISO URLs, quickget simplifies complex operations, saving time and enhancing productivity for end-users. By following the examples and explanations above, users can leverage the full potential of this command to efficiently create and manage their virtual environments.