Please put download URLs on download pages to make it easy to wget files!

Started by SeniorSausages, May 16, 2015, 12:16:38 AM

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SeniorSausages

Hi. I am a new SMF user and a pro linux sysadmin.

It's really really annoying that I have to scrape your page code to get a URL for a file I want to download.

This is because I just want to copy the URL and then wget the file from the server I am working on.

I can't do this because you hide the URL from me and do some clickthrough download junk that is really annoying. Please stop that and just give users a link to click on to DIRECTLY download the file, or at least show the download URL right there on the page.

For example:

I click on this URL:

http://download.simplemachines.org/index.php?thanks;filename=smf_2-0-10_install.tar.bz2

The ACTUAL file download URL is: http://download.simplemachines.org/index.php/smf_2-0-10_install.tar.bz2

If I try to wget that other URL above, I obviously just get the click-through URL instead.



PS: I just realized that the "please try again" URL link is a direct link to the file, but it's not obvious. I would have assumed that was just a link to reload the page, which isn't what I would want.

Make is easy for pro users by prominently displaying the URL to the file, or have a link that says "click here" or something obvious and intuitive. Right now it's obscure and obnoxious.


SeniorSausages

Ah

Another example, and this is even worse:

http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?lemma=2444

There is no direct download file URL anywhere on that page!

JBlaze

wget -r -l1 -H -t1 -nd -N -np -A.zip -erobots=off "http://download.simplemachines.org/index.php?thanks;filename=smf_2-0-10_install.zip"

Change the format in the -A flag and URL as needed.

Edit to add:

Same goes for themes.

wget -r -l1 -H -t1 -nd -N -np -A.zip -erobots=off "http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?action=download;lemma=2444;id=15441" -O themefile.zip
Jason Clemons
Former Team Member 2009 - 2012

Kindred

And, in short... No. We use those urls to track the downloads, amongst other things.
Слaва
Украинi

Please do not PM, IM or Email me with support questions.  You will get better and faster responses in the support boards.  Thank you.

"Loki is not evil, although he is certainly not a force for good. Loki is... complicated."

Douglas

Just a friendly suggestion from someone that sometimes gets in trouble for his attitude:

Soften your approach a bit, SeniorSausages (I've read your other posts). Also, it really doesn't matter what your level of proficiency is here on SMF (when it comes to various Operating Systems or System Platforms). No need to tout/flaunt it in your posts. No one will treat you any differently, whether you're a rookie or a "pro" (as you claim).

The good folks here are a pretty good group of people, but when someone comes in super strong... well, there will be some who take umbrage with that approach.

Trust me, I know from personal experience. :)
Doug Hazard
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Gluz

Quote from: zilladotexe on May 16, 2015, 01:35:53 AM
wget -r -l1 -H -t1 -nd -N -np -A.zip -erobots=off "http://download.simplemachines.org/index.php?thanks;filename=smf_2-0-10_install.zip"

Change the format in the -A flag and URL as needed.

Edit to add:

Same goes for themes.

wget -r -l1 -H -t1 -nd -N -np -A.zip -erobots=off "http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?action=download;lemma=2444;id=15441" -O themefile.zip

I think that using --content-disposition there's no need for -O and a filename, as wget fetch the name from the server.

Also from de MOD/Themes site just with wget --content-disposition 'URL' it downloads the files well, only need to be the complete URL with the MOD/Theme ID and the Download ID.

As for the installer/large upgrades, that is another story.

As a forum Admin I download all the packages and unzip them to check the files before upload to the forum, even if the forum where in a dedicated server I don't really want to upload incomplete MODs (specially when my forums are in spanish and most of the time only come in english, so we translate them for our forum).

青山 素子

Part of the reason for an extra click was that we have used download mirrors to take the load off our main servers here for major releases. I think we even did some basic geo-location to try and get a physically closer mirror for folks. It also helps us check the popularity of certain packages so we can see if we need to continue to offer certain options.

I did check and do see that we don't have a direct link on that page, which we probably should do. I'll put that up for discussion among the folks that manage the website. As a sysadmin that often does what you're doing, I understand that frustration.


Quote from: SeniorSausages on May 16, 2015, 12:28:09 AM
Another example, and this is even worse:
http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?lemma=2444

There is no direct download file URL anywhere on that page!

In that case, the file is served via SMF's internal attachment/file system. There is no direct link as the files aren't in a public place for direct access. The download link does actually give you the file with the correct name. Tools like cURL should be able to handle that without issue.
Motoko-chan
Director, Simple Machines

Note: Unless otherwise stated, my posts are not representative of any official position or opinion of Simple Machines.


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