aria2-rpc_skill

Overview

This skill provides remote control for an aria2 download service via JSON-RPC 2.0. It lets you add HTTP/FTP/Torrent/Magnet downloads, query task status, pause/resume, and remove tasks on local or remote aria2 instances. It supports RPC authentication and returns global stats and configuration data. The tool is implemented in Python and uses simple command-line scripts for common operations.

How this skill works

The skill communicates with aria2 over the JSON-RPC 2.0 API, sending methods like addUri, tellActive, pause, and remove. Authentication is handled via an RPC secret token and the target URL is configurable through environment variables or CLI options. Commands are executed by small Python scripts that wrap requests to the aria2 RPC endpoint and format responses for the terminal. It works with both standalone aria2 instances and remote servers that expose the RPC interface.

When to use it

• Automating downloads from scripts or CI pipelines that need resumable transfer support
• Centralizing download control across multiple machines or containers
• Managing large batch downloads (HTTP/FTP/Magnet/Torrent) with pause/resume capability
• Monitoring active downloads and collecting transfer metrics for reporting
• Integrating aria2 into backup or archival workflows that require reliable retrieval

Best practices

• Run aria2 with an RPC secret and restrict listening addresses for security
• Set ARIA2_RPC_URL and ARIA2_RPC_SECRET environment variables for consistent scripting
• Use tellStatus/tellActive to poll task progress rather than frequent full list requests
• Group related downloads with options/labels so they can be paused or removed together
• Log aria2 RPC responses in automation to aid troubleshooting and retries

Example use cases

• Start a multi-file download from a CI job by calling add-uri with a magnet or HTTP URL
• Pause a group of downloads before maintenance and resume them afterwards via pause/forceResume
• Query active downloads to display progress in a web dashboard or chat bot
• Remove completed or failed tasks automatically after verifying checksum or transfer completion
• Use global stats to track bandwidth usage and tune concurrency or split settings