Progressive Downloader can be controlled from the command line. This is useful for scripts, automation, and quick downloads without opening the interface manually.

Use the executable path stored in preferences:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)"
                

The application launches automatically if needed, then receives the command.

Each command starts with the executable path, followed by an action and a list of argument name/value pairs:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" [command] [argumentName] [argumentValue]...
                

Available commands:

• -add adds a new task to the queue.
• -download adds a task and waits until it finishes.
• -review shows the review dialog.
• -help prints built-in command help.

Both -add and -download expect at least the pair url [UrlWithScheme].

• url direct download URL, video page URL, or path to a text file with one link per line.
• username user name for server authentication.
• password password for server authentication.
• privatekey private key path for SFTP connections.
• destination destination folder.
• filename custom file name.
• useDefaults use default task settings, either 1 or 0.
• cookie cookie string or path to a Mozilla-format cookie file.
• referer referring page URL.

Quote paths and values that may contain spaces.

Add a task to the queue:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" -add url "https://example.com/archive.zip"
                

Add a task to the queue and wait until it finishes:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" \
    -download \
    url "https://example.com/archive.zip" \
    useDefaults 1
                

Download to a specific folder and rename the file:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" \
    -download \
    url "https://example.com/archive.zip" \
    destination "$HOME/Downloads/Packages" \
    filename "archive-latest.zip" \
    useDefaults 1
                

Download using cookies and a referer:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" \
    -add \
    url "https://example.com/private/file.zip" \
    cookie "$HOME/cookies.txt" \
    referer "https://example.com/account/downloads"
                

Download from an authenticated SFTP server:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" \
    -download \
    url "sftp://example.com/files/backup.zip" \
    username "john" \
    password "secret" \
    privatekey "$HOME/.ssh/id_rsa" \
    useDefaults 1
                

Show the review dialog:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" -review
                

Print the built-in help:

"$(defaults read com.PS.PSD psAppPath)" -help
                

The -download command prints progress in Terminal and exits only after the task completes or fails. On success it prints the resulting path as:

Downloaded: /path/to/file
                

To cancel an active -download command, press Ctrl+C. The app receives the cancel request and Terminal prints:

Download canceled