fetchzip

fetchzip is a command-line utility designed to streamline the process of downloading and extracting zip archives from URLs. It simplifies the common task of fetching a remote compressed file and immediately making its contents available locally. The tool is particularly useful for developers and system administrators who frequently need to download and unpack libraries, configurations, or datasets distributed in zip format.

The primary function of fetchzip is to accept a URL pointing to a zip file. Upon execution, it downloads the archive to the specified or default temporary location and then automatically extracts all its contents into a designated directory. This eliminates the need for separate commands to download the file (e.g., using curl or wget) and then to extract it (e.g., using unzip).

fetchzip typically offers options for specifying the output directory for extraction, handling potential overwrites, and sometimes providing progress indicators during the download and extraction phases. Its simplicity and focus on a single, well-defined task make it a lightweight and efficient solution for managing remote zip archives. The tool is often found in scripting environments where automating software installations or data setup is a common requirement.