apt-fast: Improve apt-get Download Speed

apt-fast is a “shell script wrapper” for apt-get and aptitude that can drastically improve APT download times by downloading packages with multiple connections per package. apt-fast uses aria2c or axel download managers to speed up the APT download time. Just like the traditional apt-get package manager, apt-fast supports almost all apt-get functions such as install,remove, update, upgrade, dist-upgrade etc. And one more notable feature is it supports proxy too.

Install apt-fast On Ubuntu

Use the following PPA to install apt-fast. apt-fast developer says “Some distros, such as PCLinuxOS include apt-fast in their default repos”.

To Add apt-fast PPA, enter the following command in Terminal.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:apt-fast/stable

Update the sources list with command:

sudo apt-get update

Now install it using command:

sudo apt-get install apt-fast

During installation it will ask you to select the maximum number connections to download packages.

Select No and continue installation. If you select Yes, apt-get won’t ask you the confirmation during any package installation.

I found aria2 download manager has been installed along with apt-fast installation automatically. So you don’t have to install it separately.

If you want re-configure apt-fast options, you can do it using command:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure apt-fast

Usage

Similar to apt-get functions, we can use:

apt-fast install package

apt-fast remove package

apt-fast update

apt-fast upgrade

apt-fast dist-upgrade

and more.

apt-fast package manager in action:

Create alias (Optional)

Edit ~/.bashrc file and add the following line at the end.

alias apt-get='apt-fast'

Or simply run the following command to add it in your ~/.bashrc file.

sudo echo "alias apt-get='apt-fast'" >> ~/.bashrc

From now whenever you run apt-get command to install, remove, update and upgrade packages, it will use apt-fast automatically in the background. Sounds cool? Yes it should.
Please don't forget to check out www.hackerbhai.com