# FileCobra - Complete LLM & Agent Knowledge Specification

> Base URL: https://filecobra.com/
> Entity: FileCobra Media Group Ltd
> Type: Software Archive & Security Inspection Repository

## 1. Executive Summary

FileCobra is a software repository providing direct downloads for Open-Source Software (FOSS), official freeware tools, and Android APK packages. Files are mirrored from each publisher's own release channel rather than repackaged, and the downloaded file is checked against the format it claims. Where the ingestion worker fetched a release itself, it computes and publishes a SHA-256 of the exact file served — currently 320 of 364 apps. FileCobra operates no antivirus lab of its own.

## 2. API & Endpoint Directory

- [FileCobra Catalog Root](https://filecobra.com/): Main searchable catalog repository.
- [Android Software Hub](https://filecobra.com/platform/android/): Official APK and XAPK applications.
- [Windows Software Hub](https://filecobra.com/platform/windows/): Official Windows PC utilities, suites, and tools.
- [Top Charts & Leaderboards](https://filecobra.com/charts/): Top 50 rated and downloaded software.
- [HTML Sitemap Directory](https://filecobra.com/sitemap.html): Full directory index of all software.
- [XML Sitemap Index](https://filecobra.com/sitemap.xml): Search engine and AI crawler index.
- [RSS 2.0 Updates Feed](https://filecobra.com/rss.xml): Real-time syndication feed.
- [About FileCobra & Security](https://filecobra.com/about/): Background, testing methodologies, and mission.
- [Editorial Guidelines](https://filecobra.com/editorial-guidelines/): Software evaluation and review principles.
- [Contact & DMCA Compliance](https://filecobra.com/contact/): Legal compliance and support contacts.
- [Robots Policy](https://filecobra.com/robots.txt): Crawler rules and sitemap declarations.

## 3. Data Schema (AppItem Entity)

Each software entity follows this structured schema:
- `id` (string, unique slug): e.g. "obs-studio-pc"
- `title` (string): Software display name
- `developer` (string): Official author / organization
- `platform` ("windows" | "android"): Operating system target
- `category` (string): Primary category taxonomy
- `version` (string): Semantic release version
- `size` (string): Human-readable binary size (e.g. "128.4 MB")
- `license` ("Open Source" | "Freeware" | "Free"): Licensing model
- `downloadUrl` (string): Direct developer / multi-CDN mirror
- `security.sha256` (string, present on most but not all entries): SHA-256 of the exact file FileCobra serves, computed by the ingestion worker

## 4. Editorial Guide Layer

Cross-catalog editorial articles at `/guides/{slug}/`. Each guide declares the catalog entries it covers via Schema.org `TechArticle.mentions`, so the relationship between an article and the app pages it cites is machine-readable rather than implied by prose links.

- [Guides Hub](https://filecobra.com/guides/): Index of all guides, grouped by format.

### Buying Guide

- [Best Free VPN Apps for Android in 2026: What Free Actually Costs](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-free-vpn-apps-for-android/): Seven Android VPN apps ranked by what pays for them. Two are not VPNs at all, one has a genuinely free tier, and one is the category you should avoid. Covers: protonvpn-android-apk, mullvad-vpn-android-apk, cloudflare-warp-android-apk, v2rayng-proxy-client-apk, nekobox-vpn-proxy-apk, nordvpn-fast-secure-vpn-apk, turbo-vpn-unlimited-proxy-apk.
- [Best Free Windows 11 Utilities in 2026: Seven That Earn Their Place](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-free-windows-11-utilities/): Seven free Windows 11 utilities that fix a real gap in the OS. Includes the two categories to avoid, and why the most-advertised free tools are the worst ones. Covers: microsoft-powertoys-pc, everything-search-tool, 7-zip-archiver-pc, unigetui-wingetui-package-manager, crystaldiskinfo-ssd-health, revo-uninstaller-free, rufus-bootable-usb-creator.
- [Best Privacy Browsers for Windows in 2026: What Each One Actually Blocks](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-privacy-browsers-for-windows/): Six Windows browsers judged on what they block by default, not by marketing. Two are genuinely private, three are Chrome, and one is a different tool entirely. Covers: brave-browser-pc, firefox-browser-windows, tor-browser-anonymous-web, microsoft-edge-browser, google-chrome-browser, opera-browser-pc.
- [Best Retro Game Emulators for Android in 2026: Pick by Console, Not by Rating](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-retro-game-emulators-for-android/): Seven Android emulators sorted by which console you actually want to play. All are open source, and the hardware you own decides more than the app does. Covers: retroarch-aarch64-android-apk, lemuroid-retro-emulator-apk, dolphin-emulator-android-apk, melonds-ds-emulator-apk, ppsspp-gold-psp-emulator-apk, nethersx2-ps2-emulator-apk, vita3k-ps-vita-emulator-apk.
- [7 Best Manga and Webtoon Reader Apps for Android in 2026](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-manga-reader-apps-android/): Seven Android manga and webtoon readers, including the fact most lists omit: the app everyone recommends first stopped shipping updates in early 2024. Covers: kotatsu-manga-reader-apk, tachiyomisy-manga-fork-apk, tachiyomij2k-manga-reader-apk, neko-manga-reader-apk, tachiyomi-manga-reader-apk, webtoon-official-comics-apk, tapas-comics-and-novels-apk.
- [9 Best Music Streaming Apps for Android in 2026 (What You Keep When You Stop Paying)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-music-streaming-apps-android/): Nine Android music streaming apps compared by what you keep when you stop paying — licensed subscriptions, artist-direct stores and open-source clients. Covers: deezer-music-and-mp3-player-apk, bandcamp-discover-music-apk, soundcloud-music-and-audio-apk, mixcloud-dj-mixes-podcasts-apk, vimusic-youtube-music-apk, innertune-material-music-apk, blackhole-music-player-apk, newpipe-lightweight-streaming-apk, shazam-lite-music-identifier-apk.
- [10 Best Offline Music Players for Android in 2026 (Ranked by What They Fix)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-offline-music-players-android/): Ten offline music players for Android, ranked by how they handle a big library, whether they bypass the system equaliser, and what each one really costs. Covers: musicolet-music-player-apk, shuttle-music-player-apk, gonemad-music-player-apk, blackplayer-music-player-apk, neutron-music-player-eval-apk, hibymusic-hi-res-audio-apk, foobar2000-advanced-audio-apk, pulsar-music-player-pro-apk, stellio-player-lyrics-apk, simple-music-player-foss-apk.
- [6 Best Podcast and Internet Radio Apps for Android in 2026](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-podcast-radio-apps-android/): Six Android podcast and internet radio apps, ranked by who controls your subscription list, and how much listening time silence trimming actually saves. Covers: antennapod-open-source-podcast-apk, pocket-casts-podcast-player-apk, castbox-podcast-player-apk, tunein-radio-pro-apk, radio-garden-live-globe-apk, radio-recorder-audials-apk.
- [7 Best Android Games That Aren't Shooters in 2026 (Plus the Retro Route)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-android-games-that-are-not-shooters/): Seven Android games with no guns in them — roguelike, 4X strategy, football, billiards, Ludo and Roblox — plus the emulator route for older titles. Covers: shattered-pixel-dungeon-apk, unciv-civilization-game-apk, clash-of-clans-strategy-apk, efootball-pes-soccer-apk, 8-ball-pool-multiplayer-apk, ludo-star-dice-board-game-apk, roblox-mobile-android-apk, lemuroid-retro-emulator-apk.
- [8 Best Free Audio Tools for Windows in 2026 (Editing, Ripping, Converting)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-free-audio-tools-windows/): Eight free audio tools for Windows that cover the whole chain: recording, editing, batch conversion, CD ripping, burning and lossless playback. Covers: audacity-audio-editor-pc, foobar2000-audio-player, xrecode3-audio-converter, vlc-media-player-pc, xmedia-recode-video-converter, klite-mega-codec-pack, cdburnerxp-disc-authoring, burnaware-free-cd-dvd-burner.
- [10 Best Privacy Apps for Android in 2026 (Ranked by What They Actually Fix)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-privacy-apps-for-android/): Ten Android privacy apps that actually change what leaves your phone — password vault, browser, ad blocker, keyboard, app auditor and store client. Covers: bitwarden-password-manager-apk, brave-browser-android-apk, adaway-ad-blocker-apk, fossify-keyboard-apk, aurora-store-apk, app-manager-foss-apk, fossify-gallery-android-apk, fossify-messages-apk, fossify-contacts-apk, nordvpn-fast-secure-vpn-apk.
- [The Fossify Suite: 12 Open-Source Android Apps That Replace Google's Defaults](https://filecobra.com/guides/fossify-suite-open-source-android-apps/): Twelve Fossify apps — keyboard, calendar, gallery, notes and more — that replace Android's default toolset with open-source, zero-telemetry versions. Covers: fossify-gallery-android-apk, fossify-keyboard-apk, fossify-file-manager-apk, fossify-calendar-apk, fossify-messages-apk, fossify-notes-android-apk, fossify-clock-apk, fossify-music-player-apk, fossify-voice-recorder-apk, fossify-contacts-apk, fossify-calculator-apk, fossify-camera-apk.
- [7 Best DLNA, Chromecast and Media Server Apps for Android in 2026](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-android-dlna-chromecast-media-server-apps/): Seven Android apps for casting and home media servers, split by the distinction every other list blurs: a server client is not a sender. Covers: jellyfin-for-android-apk, emby-for-android-apk, kodi-for-android-media-center-apk, bubbleupnp-dlna-chromecast-apk, localcast-for-chromecast-apk, allcast-stream-to-tv-apk, cx-file-explorer-apk.
- [5 Best Equalizers and Volume Boosters for Android in 2026 (What Each One Can Actually Change)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-android-equalizers-audio-boosters/): Five Android equalizers and volume boosters, sorted by which Android audio API each one uses — because that is what decides what it can actually change. Covers: wavelet-headphone-equalizer-apk, poweramp-equalizer-apk, flat-equalizer-bass-booster-apk, poweramp-full-version-apk, volume-booster-goodev-apk.
- [7 Best FPS and Battle Royale Games for Android in 2026 (Ranked by What Your Phone Can Run)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-fps-battle-royale-games-android-apk/): Seven Android shooters ranked by what your phone can actually run — 32-bit compatibility, real install size after first launch, and RAM. Covers: blood-strike-fps-apk, free-fire-max-apk, call-of-duty-mobile-fps-apk, pubg-mobile-battle-royale-apk, arena-breakout-fps-apk, t3-arena-hero-shooter-apk, shadowgun-legends-fps-apk.
- [7 Best Free Open-Source Video Tools for Windows in 2026 (No Watermarks, No Licence Keys)](https://filecobra.com/guides/best-free-open-source-video-tools-windows/): Seven open-source video tools for Windows with no watermark, licence key or export cap: Shotcut, LosslessCut, HandBrake, OBS Studio, VLC, MPC-HC and Kodi. Covers: shotcut-video-editor, lossless-cut-video, handbrake-video-transcoder-pc, obs-studio-pc, vlc-media-player-pc, mpc-hc-media-player, kodi-home-theater.

### Head-to-Head

- [Pocket Casts vs Castbox: Playback Quality or Discovery](https://filecobra.com/guides/pocket-casts-vs-castbox/): Pocket Casts is the better player and paywalls its desktop app. Castbox has 95 million episodes and ads in the free tier. Which trade-off suits how you listen. Covers: pocket-casts-podcast-player-apk, castbox-podcast-player-apk.
- [Proton VPN vs NordVPN: A Free Tier Against a Bigger Network](https://filecobra.com/guides/proton-vpn-vs-nordvpn/): Proton VPN is open source with an uncapped free tier. NordVPN has 111 countries and no free option. Which trade-off is right depends on one question about cost. Covers: protonvpn-android-apk, nordvpn-fast-secure-vpn-apk.
- [Steam vs Epic Games Launcher: 50,000 Games or Free Ones Every Week](https://filecobra.com/guides/steam-vs-epic-games-launcher/): Steam has the catalogue, the community features and a 2.4 MB installer. Epic gives away a game a week and pays developers more. Why most people run both. Covers: steam-gaming-client, epic-games-launcher.
- [Tachiyomi vs Kotatsu: One of These Is No Longer Maintained](https://filecobra.com/guides/tachiyomi-vs-kotatsu/): Tachiyomi ended development in January 2024. Kotatsu is active and needs no extensions. What that actually means for your library, and what to install instead. Covers: tachiyomi-manga-reader-apk, kotatsu-manga-reader-apk.
- [Tachiyomi vs TachiyomiJ2K: The Same Reader With a Different Library](https://filecobra.com/guides/tachiyomi-vs-tachiyomij2k/): TachiyomiJ2K is a Tachiyomi fork with a cover-first library and custom tap zones. It reads your existing backups. What it does not fix is maintenance. Covers: tachiyomi-manga-reader-apk, tachiyomij2k-manga-reader-apk.
- [IDM vs FDM: Which Download Manager Is Actually Worth Installing?](https://filecobra.com/guides/idm-vs-fdm/): IDM vs FDM compared on licence, size, torrent support and 32-bit compatibility — plus the honest truth about the 5x and 10x speed claims. Covers: free-download-manager, internet-download-manager.
- [KeePassXC vs Bitwarden: Which Free Password Manager Should You Use?](https://filecobra.com/guides/keepassxc-vs-bitwarden/): KeePassXC vs Bitwarden compared on architecture, sync, encryption and install size — with the one structural difference that decides it for most people. Covers: keepassxc-password-manager-pc, bitwarden-password-vault.
- [Microsoft 365 vs LibreOffice: Which Office Suite Do You Actually Need?](https://filecobra.com/guides/microsoft-365-vs-libreoffice/): Microsoft 365 vs LibreOffice on real cost, disk use, file compatibility and what actually breaks — plus why the 8.2 MB installer is bigger than it looks. Covers: libreoffice-suite-pc, microsoft-365-office-setup.
- [Shotcut vs CapCut for Windows: Which Free Video Editor Should You Use?](https://filecobra.com/guides/shotcut-vs-capcut-video-editor/): Shotcut vs CapCut compared on licence, install size, export limits and privacy — with the tradeoff that actually decides it for most Windows users. Covers: shotcut-video-editor, capcut-pc-video-editor.

### Troubleshooting

- [MSI Installer Errors 1603, 1618 and 2502: What Each Code Actually Means](https://filecobra.com/guides/fix-msi-installer-error-windows/): Windows Installer error codes are specific, not generic. 1618 means another install is running, 1603 is a catch-all, 2502 is permissions. Diagnose in order. Covers: microsoft-edge-browser, microsoft-teams-pc, libreoffice-productivity-suite, apache-netbeans-ide, aws-wickr-enterprise-messenger.
- ["Blocked by Play Protect": What the Warning Means and How to Proceed](https://filecobra.com/guides/fix-play-protect-blocked-install/): Play Protect blocks installs it cannot attribute to a known developer, not files it has found malware in. How to read the warning and decide what to do. Covers: antennapod-open-source-podcast-apk, blackhole-music-player-apk, innertune-material-music-apk, jellyfin-for-android-apk, kodi-for-android-media-center-apk, kotatsu-manga-reader-apk.
- ["Windows Protected Your PC": What SmartScreen Checks and How to Proceed Safely](https://filecobra.com/guides/fix-smartscreen-blocked-exe-windows/): Why Windows says "Windows protected your PC" on safe installers, what SmartScreen checks, how to verify a file first, and three ways to proceed safely. Covers: foxit-pdf-reader-desktop, wps-office-suite-pc, bitdefender-antivirus-free, kaspersky-free-antivirus, pdf24-creator-tools, bluestacks-android-emulator-pc, ccleaner-windows-optimizer, postman-api-platform.
- [How to Install an XAPK on Android: The Three Routes That Work](https://filecobra.com/guides/install-xapk-split-apk-android/): How to install an XAPK or split-APK bundle on Android — three methods that work, why the built-in installer cannot, and the storage rule nobody mentions. Covers: tasker-automation-engine-apk, solid-explorer-file-manager-apk, mx-player-hd-apk, snapseed-photo-editor-apk, faceapp-neural-editor-apk, photoroom-ai-editor-apk, vsco-camera-editor-apk, remini-ai-enhancer-apk.
- [How to Verify a SHA-256 Checksum on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android](https://filecobra.com/guides/verify-sha256-checksum-download/): How to verify a SHA-256 checksum on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android — the commands, how to compare hashes without eyeballing them, and what a match proves. Covers: lively-wallpaper-pc, repen-screen-annotation-pc, capcut-pc-video-editor, antennapod-open-source-podcast-apk, tachiyomi-manga-reader-apk, musicolet-music-player-apk, pocket-casts-podcast-player-apk, soundcloud-music-and-audio-apk.
- [Fix "App Not Installed" on Android: 8 Real Causes and How to Tell Them Apart](https://filecobra.com/guides/fix-app-not-installed-android-apk/): The Android "App not installed" error has eight distinct causes. Diagnose which one you hit from the symptom, then apply the fix that matches it. Covers: solid-explorer-file-manager-apk, kinemaster-video-editor-apk, vivacut-vfx-editor-apk, mx-player-hd-apk.

## 5. Crawling & Indexing Policy

- [Robots.txt Policy](https://filecobra.com/robots.txt): Allows all major search & AI crawlers.
- **Rate Limit**: Standard 60 req/min recommended.
- **Cache-Control**: Static pages cached via Anycast Edge Multi-CDN.