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What is Universal Manga Downloader?

Universal Manga Downloader is a robust, open-source automation tool that downloads manga from multiple popular websites and converts them into high-quality PDF files. Built with a modular Python core and offering multiple deployment options, it provides flexibility for both casual users and developers. The project features a modern Next.js web interface, a legacy desktop GUI, and a Discord bot integration - all powered by the same battle-tested core engine.

Web interface

Modern dashboard with real-time progress tracking

Desktop app

Standalone Tkinter GUI for local use

Discord bot

Remote downloads via Discord commands

API

FastAPI backend for custom integrations

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Key features

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Multi-site support

The downloader supports 6+ major manga sites with intelligent extraction strategies:
  • Z-TMO - Full series and single chapter support using Crawl4AI
  • TMO-H - AI-powered image detection with Crawl4AI
  • M440 - Cover and chapter downloads via crawler
  • H2R - Fast metadata extraction using JSON parsing
  • Hi.la - Stealth browser mode to bypass protections
  • NH.net - API + browser combo with Cloudflare bypass

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Modern architecture

The core package uses the Strategy Pattern for easy extensibility. Each site handler implements the BaseSiteHandler interface, making it simple to add new sites.
Asynchronous by design Built on asyncio and aiohttp for high-performance concurrent downloads. Multiple images are downloaded in parallel with configurable batch sizes. 
# Example: Core handler routing
from core import process_entry

async def download_manga(url: str):
    await process_entry(
        url=url,
        log_callback=lambda msg: print(msg),
        check_cancel=lambda: False
    )
Intelligent extraction Utilizes Crawl4AI for smart image extraction and parsing of complex sites with dynamic content loading.

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Security-first design

The project includes multiple security layers:
  • SSRF Protection - Strict hostname verification prevents server-side request forgery
  • Path Traversal Prevention - Absolute path checking blocks directory traversal attacks
  • CORS Enforcement - Mitigates cross-origin vulnerabilities
  • Rate Limiting - Basic DoS protection with concurrent download limits
# SSRF protection in handler.py
for handler in HANDLERS:
    supported = handler.get_supported_domains()
    # Validates hostname, not just URL string
    if any(domain in hostname for domain in supported):
        await handler.process(url, log_callback, check_cancel)
        return

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Real-time feedback

Whether you’re using the web interface, desktop app, or Discord bot, you get:
  • Live progress bars showing download status
  • Detailed logging of each operation
  • WebSocket integration for instant updates
  • Error reporting with actionable messages

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Use cases

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Personal archiving

Download your favorite manga series for offline reading or backup purposes. The high-quality PDF output preserves image quality and includes proper page ordering.

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Batch processing

Process multiple chapters or entire series efficiently with concurrent downloads. The asynchronous engine handles multiple URLs without blocking.

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Remote access

Deploy the Discord bot to download manga from any device with Discord access. Files over 8MB are automatically uploaded to GoFile for easy retrieval. 
# Discord bot usage
!descargar https://example.com/manga/chapter-1

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Custom automation

Integrate the FastAPI backend into your own workflows. The WebSocket API provides programmatic access to all functionality.

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Architecture overview

Universal Manga Downloader uses a three-layer architecture:

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Interface layer

Multiple deployment options that all consume the same core functionality:
  • Web client (web_client_next/) - Next.js 15 dashboard with TailwindCSS
  • Desktop app (app.py) - Tkinter GUI for standalone use
  • Discord bot (bot.py) - Discord.py integration
  • API server (web_server.py) - FastAPI backend with WebSocket support

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Core engine

The core/ package provides the main processing logic:
  • handler.py - Central router that delegates to site-specific handlers
  • config.py - Centralized configuration management
  • utils.py - PDF generation and file management utilities

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Site handlers

Each supported site has a dedicated handler in core/sites/: 
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class BaseSiteHandler(ABC):
    @staticmethod
    @abstractmethod
    def get_supported_domains() -> list:
        """Returns supported domain strings"""
        pass

    @abstractmethod
    async def process(self, url, log_callback, check_cancel):
        """Download and process manga from URL"""
        pass
Handlers use various technologies:
  • Crawl4AI - Intelligent web scraping for complex sites
  • Playwright - Browser automation for JavaScript-heavy pages
  • aiohttp - Fast async HTTP requests for APIs
All handlers implement cancellation support and progress reporting through callback functions.

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Next steps

Install

Set up the project on your machine

Quick start

Download your first manga in 5 minutes

Deploy

Choose your deployment method

API reference

Explore the core API

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

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