Installation & Setup

This document covers the installation and configuration process for kotatsu-dl, a cross-platform manga downloader. For information about using the tool after installation, see Usage Guide.

Prerequisites

Before installing kotatsu-dl, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

Java Runtime Environment (JRE): Version 17 or later is required
Internet connection: Required for downloading manga from supported sources
Storage space: Sufficient space to store downloaded manga

Installation Methods

kotatsu-dl can be installed through different methods depending on your operating system.

Pre-built Binary (All Platforms)

Download the latest release JAR file from the GitHub releases page
No additional installation is required - the JAR file contains all necessary dependencies
Run the application using the Java command:
```
java -jar kotatsu-dl.jar
```

ArchLinux Package

For ArchLinux users, kotatsu-dl is available in the AUR (Arch User Repository):

yay -S kotatsu-dl-git

Once installed, the kotatsu-dl command will be available system-wide.

Building from Source

For developers or users who want the latest features, building from source is an option:

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/KotatsuApp/kotatsu-dl.git

Navigate to the project directory:
```
cd kotatsu-dl
```
Build using Gradle:
```
./gradlew shadowJar
```
The compiled JAR will be available in the build/libs directory

Verification

After installation, verify kotatsu-dl is working correctly by running a simple command:

# If using the JAR file directly
java -jar kotatsu-dl.jar --help

# If installed via AUR
kotatsu-dl --help

You should see the help output displaying available options.

Configuration

kotatsu-dl is primarily configured through command-line arguments. There are no separate configuration files to set up.

Troubleshooting

Common Installation Issues

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
"Java not found"	Java is not installed or not in PATH	Install Java 17+ and ensure it's in your system PATH
Outdated Java version	Using Java version lower than 17	Update to Java 17 or later
Permission denied	JAR file not executable	Add execute permission: `chmod +x kotatsu-dl.jar`
AUR package error	Build dependencies missing	Install required build dependencies before installing

Checking Java Version

To verify your Java version, run:

java -version

Ensure the output shows version 17 or higher.

Next Steps

After successful installation, refer to the Usage Guide for detailed information on how to use kotatsu-dl to download manga from various sources.