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Shayan
Shayan

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I Built DLMan, the Modern Download Manager I always needed!

The Problem

For years, I've been jealous of Windows users having IDM (Internet Download Manager). As someone who switches between Mac, Linux, and occasionally Windows, I wanted something that just works everywhere. Something fast, reliable, and doesn't cost $30.

I tried the free alternatives out there. None of them really clicked with me—either too bloated, missing features, or just didn't feel right. So I did what any developer would do: spent way too many nights building my own 😅

Introducing DLMan

DLMan is the open-source download manager I always dreamed of. Built with Rust (Tauri) and React, it's fast, lightweight, and actually works across all platforms.

DLMan Download Manager

Why I'm Excited About It

⚡ It's Actually Fast

  • Multi-segment downloads (split files into 1-32 parts)
  • Downloads happen in parallel segments, maxing out your bandwidth
  • Real-time monitoring so you can see exactly what's happening
  • Lightweight: ~6MB on Mac, ~4MB on Windows (no Electron!)

🔄 It Won't Let You Down

Here's the thing—I hate when downloads fail halfway through a 5GB file. DLMan uses SQLite to persist everything, so even if your computer crashes, your downloads are safe. Just resume when you're back.

  • Pause and resume anytime
  • Auto-resume after crashes or restarts
  • Automatic retries for failed segments
  • No corrupted half-downloaded files

Queue & Schedule Manager in DLman

🗂️ Smart Organization

  • Queue management with priorities
  • Schedule downloads for later (great for overnight downloads)
  • Batch import multiple URLs at once
  • Categories with custom folders
  • Post-download actions: shutdown, sleep, or run custom commands

Organized Categories - DLMan

🎨 Clean Interface

I wanted something that doesn't look like it's from 2005. Modern UI with dark/light themes, drag-and-drop support, and real-time visualization of download segments.

Browser Extensions

Because manually copying URLs is annoying:

  • Chrome, Edge, Brave
  • Firefox

Just install the extension and downloads get captured automatically.

There's a CLI Too!

For the terminal lovers (like me), there's a full-featured CLI:

# Quick download
dlman add https://example.com/bigfile.zip

# Custom segments and output folder
dlman add https://example.com/file.zip -o ~/Downloads -s 8

# List all downloads
dlman list

# Pause/resume/cancel
dlman pause <id>
dlman resume <id>
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The CLI shares the same core engine as the desktop app, so you get feature parity. Perfect for automation and scripts.

The Tech Stack

I chose Rust + Tauri for a reason:

  • Rust backend: Native performance, memory safety, no crashes
  • Tauri v2: Way lighter than Electron (seriously, check the file sizes)
  • SQLite: Crash-safe persistence
  • React + TypeScript: Modern, reactive UI
  • Tokio + Reqwest: Async downloads done right

Cross-Platform Done Right

Platform Downloads
Windows .msi, .exe
macOS (Intel) .dmg (x64)
macOS (Apple Silicon) .dmg (aarch64)
Linux .deb, .rpm, .AppImage

Download from: GitHub Releases

DLMan App

It's Free. Forever.

DLMan is MIT licensed and 100% open source. No premium tiers, no locked features, no tracking. Just a solid download manager that respects your privacy and freedom.

But here's the thing—open source projects only survive with community support. If you find DLMan useful:

  • ⭐ Star the repo on GitHub
  • 🐛 Report bugs or suggest features
  • 🤝 Contribute code, docs, or translations
  • ☕ Buy me a coffee if you're feeling generous
  • 💬 Spread the word!

Every bit helps keep this project alive and improving.

Try It Out

GitHub: github.com/novincode/dlman

Installation docs, CLI guide, and architecture details are all in the repo.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to drop a comment or feedback.

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