Manual Mode

Managed mode is the default, not the only way to run AIS-catcher. Started with command-line options, AIS-catcher behaves as the classic command-line tool it has always been: it does exactly what you type, and the dashboard and its configuration file are not in play.

AIS-catcher -v 10

That is a complete AIS receiver — decoding starts immediately and NMEA messages appear on screen, with statistics every 10 seconds.

Manual mode is the right choice when you want to script or integrate AIS-catcher, run a minimal headless setup, build complex multi-receiver configurations, or simply prefer the command line.

There are two equivalent ways to express a configuration:

• Command Line — every setting as a command-line switch. Start here for a first run and experimentation.
• JSON Configuration — the same settings in a JSON file, loaded with -C. Better for larger configurations that you want to keep under version control or deploy to multiple stations.

For unattended operation, see Running as a Service.

Every setting is documented in the Settings reference with its command-line switch and JSON key side by side.