Progressive Downloader

The Progressive Downloader download manager is developed for macOS systems. It operates with HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and SFTP protocols. The application manages download queues, splits files into segments for concurrent transfer and automatically locates alternative mirrors. It includes an integrated browser for FTP and SFTP servers. The drag and drop function for text with links initiates downloads. The program resumes interrupted transfers when the system is reactivated or the application is restarted.

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• Multithreaded download. The application splits files into several segments and downloads them simultaneously. This method uses multiple parallel connections to the source server, increasing transfer speed when the server and the user's connection allow it. The splitting occurs automatically and is configurable.
• Automatic mirror search. The program scans the internet for alternative locations containing the same file. It analyzes the found mirrors to select the server with the lowest latency and highest response speed, thus optimizing the download source.
• Automatic resumption. If a download is interrupted due to connection loss, system shutdown, or application closure, the process is suspended preserving progress. When conditions are re-established, the download resumes from the exact point of interruption without the need for manual intervention.
• Support for hosting services. The manager includes built-in compatibility with popular file sharing platforms. It handles the specific link structures and waiting requirements of these services, integrating their download into the program's general queue.
• FTP/SFTP browser. The interface incorporates a client to browse directories on FTP and SFTP servers. Users can view the folder structure, preview files, and download items with a double-click or via the drag and drop operation.
• Prioritized queue management. The user organizes the download sequence by assigning high, medium, or low priority levels to each task. The program respects this order, allocating bandwidth and resources to higher priority tasks first.
• Intelligent drag and drop. This functionality allows selecting text containing hyperlinks from any application and dragging it to the program's icon in the dock. The link parser extracts all valid URLs and adds them to the download queue.
• Import from text files. The manager can process files with .txt or .html extensions. When importing a file, the software examines its content, identifies all strings that match URL patterns, and presents a list to select which ones to download.
• Download scheduling. Tasks can be configured to start at a specific date and time. This function allows planning large volume transfers for times of lower network congestion or tariff cost.
• Download speed limiting. The user sets a maximum bandwidth consumption limit for active downloads. This control is useful to prevent the manager from saturating the connection and allow other applications to maintain their network performance.
• Browser integration. The application registers as a download manager in the system. When a download link is clicked in Safari or other browsers, the request is redirected to Progressive Downloader instead of using the system's default manager.
• File integrity verification. Upon completing a download, the program can calculate the MD5 or SHA checksum of the local file and compare it to a hash value provided by the user. It confirms that the downloaded file is identical to the original and not corrupt.
• Detailed activity log. All operations, connection attempts, transfer speeds, and errors are recorded in an internal log file. This history is accessible for diagnosing connection problems or failures in specific downloads.

Progressive Downloader is a project created by independent developers. The development of the application began in 2012. The program is written primarily in the Objective-C programming language, using the native Cocoa frameworks for the macOS user interface.

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