install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install internetarchive

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install internetarchive

MacPorts ports tree · python/internetarchive/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install internetarchive

Debian stable package indexes · internetarchive · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#internetarchive

nixpkgs package indexes · internetarchive · source: raw.githubusercontent.com

overview

Package summary

Python wrapper for the various Internet Archive APIs

Project links

Commands and aliases

ia

history

Project history and usage

`internetarchive` is the official-ish Python library and `ia` command-line client for working with archive.org services. It gives archivists, librarians, researchers, and automation-heavy users a scriptable interface for search, download, upload, metadata changes, and other Archive workflows that are awkward to repeat through the website.

Project history

The GitHub repository was created in August 2012. Internet Archive's own 2019 blog history says the client started in 2012 and was overseen primarily by Archive employee Jake Johnson, with the `internetarchive` client serving both as a library set and as a command-line program for broad Archive interactions.

The package reached a 1.0 release in 2016 after a series of 0.9 releases. Later work continued through PyPI, GitHub releases, binary `ia` downloads, and documentation under the Internet Archive developer portal. The README also records a security-driven maintenance path, including explicit upgrade guidance for versions affected by a directory traversal vulnerability.

Adoption history

The tool became the practical automation client for Archive users because it is maintained alongside Archive APIs and documented in the Archive developer portal. It is distributed through PyPI/pipx and downloadable binaries, while third-party package managers such as Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, and Nix also package it. The upstream README warns that third-party package-manager builds may lag behind supported install methods, which is itself a useful adoption signal: people want it in system package managers even when upstream prefers Python-native distribution.

How it is used

The official CLI docs describe `ia` as installed with the Python module or available as a binary, then used to interact with archive.org services from the command line. Common workflows include configuring Archive credentials, searching, downloading, uploading, modifying metadata, and scripting bulk operations.

Why package nerds care

`internetarchive` is one of the more consequential packages in this batch because it is infrastructure for digital preservation work. For package nerds, it is a case study in the tension between Python packaging, standalone binaries, official service tooling, and distro/Homebrew lag: the same command is both an API client and an operational tool for a public digital library.

Timeline

2012: The repository was created and the Internet Archive client effort began.
2013: Early PyPI releases in the 0.2 series established public Python packaging.
2016: The project published its 1.0.0 release on GitHub.
2019: Internet Archive published a history and usage post for the `ia` client.
2026: The 5.x line continued with PyPI and Homebrew packaging metadata.

Related projects

The package connects directly to Archive.org APIs, including metadata and item services documented in the developer portal. It also overlaps with `ia` binary distribution, Python API clients, and preservation workflows used by Archive-adjacent communities.

Sources

Official GitHub README, Internet Archive developer documentation, Internet Archive blog history, GitHub release metadata, PyPI metadata, and Homebrew formula metadata.

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for internetarchive. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 1 platform targets.
Installs with 2 runtime dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/internetarchive/ia.ini~/.config/internetarchive/ia.ini~/.config/ia.ini~/.ia
Windows: C:\Users\<username>\.config\internetarchive\ia.ini

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

Unix: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/internetarchive/ia.ini~/.config/internetarchive/ia.ini~/.config/ia.ini~/.ia
Windows: C:\Users\<username>\.config\internetarchive\ia.ini

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`ia`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version5.10.1

manager updated2026-07-01

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive

infoNo cached GitHub release or tag data was available.https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchivenone confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:internetarchive
Version	5.10.1
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/internetarchive
Homepage	https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive
Repository	https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive
Upstream docs	https://archive.org/services/docs/api/internetarchive
License	AGPL-3.0-or-later
Source archive	https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/b0/95/5d830762f4519bb932401953d4735697a196a48159d2be30c88343023244/internetarchive-5.10.1.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-07-01T00:52:09Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	certifi, python@3.14
Bottle	available (on all)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	internetarchive
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Head Version	HEAD
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	head stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

internetarchive 5.4.0-2~deb13u1

commandline interface to archive.org

https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive

sudo apt install internetarchive

Section: utils
Architecture: all
Source Package: python-internetarchive
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Internetarchive

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: internetarchive from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

internetarchive

nix profile install nixpkgs#internetarchive

normalized package name match
Matched by: Internetarchive

nixpkgs package indexes · raw.githubusercontent.com · nixpkgs package indexes: internetarchive from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix

Ubuntu apt95%

internetarchive 3.5.0-1

commandline interface to archive.org

https://github.com/jjjake/internetarchive

sudo apt install internetarchive

Section: universe/utils
Architecture: all
Source Package: python-internetarchive
2 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Internetarchive

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: internetarchive from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

MacPorts95%

internetarchive

sudo port install internetarchive

normalized package name match
Matched by: Internetarchive

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: python/internetarchive/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/internetarchive.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install internetarchive with Homebrew, apt, MacPorts, Nix

Additional install commands

macOS

Linux

Package summary

Project links

Commands and aliases

Project history and usage

Project history

Adoption history

How it is used

Why package nerds care

Timeline

Related projects

Sources

No protected-tool coverage found yet

Install behavior

Recommended review

Configuration and credential file locations

Configuration files

Credential files

Installed executables

Version and freshness

Package metadata

Source database details

Other package-manager records

Internal package links

Topical hubs

Related tools

Same workflow

Agent security guides

Generated from repository data

Combined YAML source

Used sources