x apk - Alpine Linux Package Manager Enhancement

Alpine Linux is favored for its lightweight and secure design, and apk as its official package manager is equally concise and efficient. But sometimes, we want a more user-friendly interaction, easier mirror switching, and more proactive security protection. x apk is designed for this purpose, bringing you a brand new experience on top of the native apk.

Interactive Exploration: Browse Packages Like an App Store

Forget the days of memorizing exact package names! Just run x apk, and you'll enter an interactive package exploration interface (using the powerful fzf tool by default). Here, you can:

• Fuzzy Search: Type keywords in real-time to dynamically filter the package list.
• Live Preview: Select a package, and detailed information appears instantly in the right panel.
• Convenient Actions: After choosing a package, you can directly select to install or view more detailed information.

If you don't have fzf installed, x-cmd will automatically download and launch fzf when you execute x apk, no manual pre-installation needed.

x apk

This interactive approach greatly lowers the barrier to finding and installing packages, especially useful when you're not sure of the exact package name.

One-Click Mirror Switch: Say Goodbye to Slow Downloads

In domestic network environments, connecting directly to Alpine official sources can sometimes be slow. x apk thoughtfully integrates mirror management, allowing you to easily switch to faster domestic mirrors.

Want to see what mirror sources are recommended?

x apk mirror ls

After executing this command, you'll see a list similar to below, containing official sources and commonly used domestic mirrors like Alibaba Cloud, Huawei Cloud, Tsinghua University, etc.

Code          Url                                  Name
official      dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org               Official
ali           mirrors.aliyun.com                   Alibaba Cloud
huawei        mirrors.huaweicloud.com              Huawei Cloud
tuna          mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn         Tsinghua University
ustc          mirrors.ustc.edu.cn                  USTC
sjtu          mirrors.sjtug.sjtu.edu.cn            SJTU

Once you find your preferred mirror (e.g., Tsinghua's tuna), a single command completes the switch:

x apk mirror set tuna

x apk automatically backs up your original configuration, modifies the /etc/apk/repositories file, and runs apk update to refresh the index. From now on, enjoy blazing-fast download speeds! To restore the official source, use x apk mirror unset.

Security Scanning: Proactive Defense, Preventing Issues Before They Happen

Software supply chain security is increasingly important. Are there known vulnerabilities in the packages installed on your system? x apk integrates osv-scanner, allowing you to conveniently scan installed packages and their dependencies for security flaws.

x apk osv

This command analyzes the /lib/apk/db/installed file and submits the list of installed packages to OSV-Scanner for detection. After scanning, it reports any potential vulnerabilities found, helping you assess risks and take appropriate actions (such as upgrading packages) in a timely manner. This is crucial for maintaining system security.

TIP

x apk greatly enhances the native apk experience through its interactive interface, convenient mirror management, and integrated security scanning. Whether you're new to Alpine or a long-time user, x apk helps you manage your packages more efficiently and securely. Give it a try!