BookHunter — Open-Source CLI Tool for Downloading and Managing eBooks
BookHunter is an open-source command-line tool written in Go that allows users to download and manage eBooks from multiple online sources using a single unified CLI interface.
The project focuses on:
- automation
- multi-source support
- cross-platform binaries
- fast and simple CLI usage
GitHub repository:
https://github.com/bookstairs/bookhunter/
What Problem Does BookHunter Solve?
Downloading large collections of eBooks manually is time-consuming and repetitive.
BookHunter automates this process by providing:
- a single CLI tool instead of multiple scripts
- built-in parsers for different sources
- multi-threaded downloads
- consistent output formats
This makes it useful for:
- personal libraries
- research collections
- automation workflows
- CLI tool practice and learning
Key Features
- 📚 Download eBooks from multiple sources
- ⚡ Fast, multi-threaded downloads
- 🖥️ Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- 🧰 Simple and consistent CLI interface
- 📦 Supports common formats (PDF, EPUB, AZW3)
- 🔓 Open-source (MIT License)
SEO keywords covered naturally:
ebook downloader CLI, Go command line tool, open-source ebook downloader, automation with Go
Supported Sources
Depending on configuration and version, BookHunter supports:
- SoBooks
- TaleBook
- Telegram channels
- Other community-maintained sources
Each source is implemented as a separate command module.
High-Level Architecture
bookhunter (CLI)
├── source parsers
├── download manager
├── concurrency control
├── format handling
└── output directory management
The modular design makes it easy to extend with new sources.
Installation Guide
BookHunter provides prebuilt binaries for all major platforms.
macOS / Linux (Homebrew)
brew tap bookstairs/tap
brew install bookhunter
Windows (Scoop)
scoop bucket add bookstairs https://github.com/bookstairs/scoop-bucket
scoop install bookstairs/bookhunter
Manual Installation (All Platforms)
- Open the GitHub releases page
- Download the archive for your OS
- Extract the binary
- Move it to a directory in your PATH
Example (Linux / macOS):
chmod +x bookhunter
mv bookhunter /usr/local/bin/
Verify Installation
bookhunter --help
If installed correctly, you should see the available commands and options.
Basic Usage Examples
Download from SoBooks
bookhunter sobooks --download ./ebooks --thread 4
Download from Telegram Channel
bookhunter telegram --appID YOUR_APP_ID --appHash YOUR_APP_HASH --channelID https://t.me/example_channel --download ./tgbooks
You will need Telegram API credentials for this command.
Common Options
-
--download— output directory -
--thread— number of concurrent downloads -
--proxy— use HTTP/SOCKS proxy -
--verbose— detailed logs
Use Cases
- Building a personal digital library
- Automating downloads in scripts
- Learning Go by reading real-world CLI code
- Teaching CLI tools and concurrency concepts
- Research and offline reading workflows
Limitations and Notes
- Availability of sources may change
- Download speed depends on source limits
- Users are responsible for complying with local laws and content licenses
BookHunter is a tool, not a content provider.
Why This Project Is Interesting
BookHunter is a good example of:
- clean Go CLI design
- modular architecture
- real-world automation use cases
- cross-platform distribution
It’s useful both as a tool and as a learning resource.
Final Notes
If you are interested in:
- CLI tools
- Go automation
- managing large collections of files
BookHunter is worth checking out.
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