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Andrey “Rarst” Savchenko —  — Software — download, file, hosting, manager

MDownloader – download manager for file hosting sites

mdownloader_icon Since sites, that host files for download, started to offer bonuses for people who host popular files that became an interesting option for some developers. In this way they can both escape hosting costs to distribute their (possibly large) program and get a cut from a service.

And since such sites are known to be royal pain to use it pushed forward another wave of download managers. MDownloader is fresh example of such file hosting specialized download manager with modern twist – free, open source and actively maintained.

Disclaimer

Many of file hosting sites actively prohibit usage of third party software for download. Decide for yourself.

What it does

As generic download managers app essentially does same thing – takes in the link(s) and handles download. Difference is that on top of download itself it also interacts with site, makes necessary pauses and rest of that annoying stuff.

mdownloader_interface

Shortly put it handles all boring parts for you, exactly what computers are good at.

Over dozen of sites are currently supported, including such long established ones like Rapidshare and DepositFiles.

Strong features

I only use it about once a month, but so far it was absolutely reliable and finished all downloads even if servers were slammed and demanded long pauses.

App is actively developed (at least two releases monthly) and gets visibly more convenient and functional every time I update.

It also supports authentication for some of services and few embedded search options plus RSS monitor.

Downsides

I was going to write that interface is really rough, but while I waited for impressions to settle it got much more modal and usable in latest version.

Apart from that I hadn’t got any gripes during my (limited) usage.

Overall

Early apps of this kind had reputation of shady tools. MDownloader breaks the trend and is transparent open source application that gets stuff downloaded without worries.

Works without installation, requires .NET Framework 3.5 SP1.

Home http://mdownloader.codeplex.com/

Download http://mdownloader.codeplex.com/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=38865

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13 Comments

  • Jonny #

    Just been looking at Jdownloader.... (reminds me of ccleaner, kcleaner, ncleaner). Very similar to Mdownloader in approach as will try and skip menial bits of downloading. "JDownloader is open source, platform independent and written completely in Java. It simplifies downloading files from One-Click-Hosters like Rapidshare.com or Megaupload.com" Looks like Mdownloader has a nicer interface for me though, will have to try out it's functionality, nice find!

  • Ladron #

    Using FreeRapid Downloader (Java), works like a charm. Supports all known sites and more. =) http://wordrider.net/freerapid/index.html

  • Rarst #

    @Jonny Given no decent portable choice I will take .NET app over Java in general. Latter are often about cross-platform versions and as result interface suffers. I've seen JDownloader mentioned plenty of time, my guess I have it bookmarked somewhere to check out. @Ladron Thanks for suggestion! Bookmarked as well.

  • Jonny #

    I must admit that jdownloader is slow to start, as many java apps seem to be to me. Interface is good though but I know what you mean about the cross platform compromised looks problem.

  • Chocobito #

    Hi, Rarst, you can test Rdesc, this not use .NET or Java and its have a portable version, you can go to his homepage in http://rdesc.com/ , the page is in Spanish but the program its multilingual.

  • Chocobito #

    Sorry, actually this use .NET, :( anyways give it a try.

  • Rarst #

    @Chocobito Will do, bookmarked. :) Seems it will take Google Translate for me to get through that site.

  • Chocobito #

    I found a similar project now written in python, actually I don't test its myself, the soft its named Tucan, and here is him Homepage. http://blog.tucaneando.com/about/

  • Rarst #

    @Chocobito Bookmarked as well... Will take me time, it's harder to go through pack of apps that do same thing.

  • vikas #

    It even answers Megaupload's captchas. Cooool...

  • nignag #

    Does it matter that the digital signature for MDownloader-0.15.26.7024 is not trusted by the trust provider?

  • Rarst #

    @nignag I am not sure, I downloaded latest version from site and I get no such warning. I think if you download it from program's home site then there should be nothing to worry about. Also worth checking that your .NET Framework is updated and such.

  • N #

    for a while now, i have been using mipony...which i think one of the best of its kind i think it got better interface than jdownloader... and now mipony dont get updated again for some time and got problem downloading from some site, like uploading.com, filesonic, etc... so i am gonna give this Mdownloader a try, cause the interface seem good...