---
name: "diffindex-download"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "apt-file"
version: "2.5.4"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/diffindex-download"
---

# diffindex-download(1)

Download utility for Debian Contents files

## NAME

diffindex-download - Download utility for Debian Contents files

## SYNOPSIS

**diffindex-download** \[ **options** \] **URL** **filename**

## DESCRIPTION

**diffindex-download** is a command line tool for downloading Contents files. It uses APT's diff/Index format patches when available to avoid downloading the full file. **diffindex-download** is used by **apt-file**.

## OPTIONS

- **-n number**

  If more than number patches would be necessary, download the whole file. Specifying 0 to always download the whole file is possible.

- **-k**

  Don't verify the peer certificate when using https.

- **-c cacert**

  If cacert is a directory: Use cacert as CA certificate path. Otherwise use cacert as CA certificate bundle. See the --capath and --cacert options in the [**curl**(1)](/curl/1.md) man page.

- **-i**

  Don't exit with errror if the URL does not exist. This is useful as some archives don't provide Contents files.

- **-q**

  Be quiet (opposite of -v). The default if stdout is not a terminal.

- **-v**

  Be verbose (opposite of -q). The default if stdout is a terminal.

- **-d**

  Print additional debug info.

- **-h**

  Display a short help screen.

## SEE ALSO

[**apt-file**(1)](/apt-file/1.md), [**diffindex-rred**(1)](/diffindex-rred/1.md), [**curl**(1)](/curl/1.md)

## AUTHOR

**diffindex-download** was written by Stefan Fritsch \<sf@debian.org\>.