.curlrc Example – Location, Silent, Headers, Proxy, SSL/TLS

The .curlrc file is a configuration file for cURL, a command-line tool used to transfer data with various network protocols. This configuration file allows users to define default options for cURL commands, which simplifies the execution of common tasks and can help automate repetitive command configurations. Instead of typing a long list of options each time, users can set frequently used options in .curlrc for convenience.

.curlrc example

Table of Contents

Location of .curlrc in Windows/Mac/Linux

The location of the .curlrc file differs depending on the operating system:

  • Windows: On Windows, the file is named _curlrc and it can be placed in the user’s home directory (C:\Users\YourUsername) or alongside the cURL executable.
  • Mac: For macOS, the file is .curlrc and is typically located in the user’s home directory (~/.curlrc).
  • Linux: Similar to macOS, the .curlrc file on Linux systems is also found in the user’s home directory (~/.curlrc).

Different Examples of .curlrc

Here are several curlrc examples showcasing different use cases:

Silent Mode Example

# Suppress progress meter but still show error messages
silent

User-Agent example

# Set default user agent
user-agent = "Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; ExampleBot/1.0)"

# Follow redirects
location

 

Default Headers Example

# Add a custom header for every request
-H "X-Custom-Header: myvalue"

Authentication Example

# Basic authentication
user = "username:password"

# Custom headers
header = "Content-Type: application/json"
header = "Accept: application/json"

# Use a specific token for authorization
header = "Authorization: Bearer your_token"

Output Example

        # Output file for all downloads
        -o download.txt

Maximum Time Example

        # Set maximum time allowed for the transfer
        -m 3600

Using a Proxy Example

# ~/.curlrc

# Set proxy server
proxy = "http://proxy.example.com:8080"

# Use a different proxy for HTTPS
proxy = "https://proxy.example.com:8443"

# Bypass proxy for specific hosts
noproxy = "localhost,127.0.0.1,.example.com"

SSL/TLS Settings

# Path to client certificate
cert = "/path/to/certificate.pem"

# Path to client certificate key
key = "/path/to/private.key"

# Use specific CA bundle
cacert = "/path/to/ca-bundle.crt"

# Disable SSL verification (not recommended)
insecure

 

Upload and Download Settings

# Set default upload file
upload-file = "/path/to/uploadfile.txt"

# Set default download directory
output = "/path/to/download_directory"

# Limit download rate to 100K per second
limit-rate = "100K"

Example 6: Debugging and Logging

# Enable verbose output for debugging
verbose

# Log output to a file
trace-ascii = "/path/to/logfile.txt"

# Include headers in the output
include

 

Citations and References

Conclusive Summary

In sum, the .curlrc or _curlrc file can greatly streamline the use of cURL commands by pre-setting common options. Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux, creating a curlrc file in your home directory can save you time and effort. By utilizing curlrc examples like the ones provided, you can adapt the configuration to match your specific needs and improve your workflow with cURL.