diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 12c8185..c3e1243 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,19 +4,34 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.28.2)
 file(READ ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/props.json PROPS)
 string(JSON VER GET ${PROPS} version)
 
+# find curl
+find_package(CURL REQUIRED)
 project(stc
   DESCRIPTION "Easily download collections and mods from steam."
   VERSION ${VER})
 
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 26)
 
+# check if build type is set if it isnt set it to release
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+  set(DCKMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release)
+endif()
+
 # Add the path to the source files for stc
 file(GLOB_RECURSE STC_SOURCE_FILES "src/*.cpp")
 
+# add compiler flags
+set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG "-g")
+set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE "-03")
+
 # Add the executable target for stc
 add_executable(stc ${STC_SOURCE_FILES})
 install(TARGETS stc DESTINATION bin)
 
+# add curl libraries
+target_link_libraries(stc PRIVATE ${CURL_LIBRARIES})
+target_include_directories(stc PRIVATE ${CURL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+
 # DEBIAN
 set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_MAINTAINER "DRAGONTOS")
 set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_LICENSE "GPLv3")
@@ -24,6 +39,7 @@ set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION ${DESCRIPTION})
 set(CPACK_DEBIAN_PACKAGE_RELEASE_DIST ON)
 set(CPACK_GENERATOR DEBIAN)
 set(CPACK_PACKAGING_INSTALL_PREFIX "/usr")
+
 # RPM
 set(CPACK_PACKAGE_VENDOR "DRAGONTOS")
 set(CPACK_RPM_PACKAGE_LICENSE "GPLv3")
diff --git a/src/getHttp.cpp b/src/getHttp.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d6a774
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/getHttp.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#include <curl/curl.h>
+#include <curl/easy.h>
+#include <fstream>
+
+size_t appendCurlOutputToString(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, std::string *woof) {
+  // append the output from curl to a string
+  woof->append(static_cast<char *>(ptr), size*nmemb);
+  return size*nmemb;
+}
+
+void writeHtmlFile(std::string* woof, std::string *outputfile) {
+  // check for nullptrs
+  if (!woof || !outputfile){
+    throw("string is null\n");
+  } 
+  // open file and write to it
+  std::ofstream meow{*outputfile};
+  meow << *woof;
+}
+
+void getHttp(std::string url, std::string *outputfile) {
+  //initialize curl object and curlcode
+  CURL *meow = curl_easy_init();
+  CURLcode res;
+  std::string woof;
+  // check for nullptr and if nullptr throw an exception
+  if (!outputfile){
+    curl_easy_cleanup(meow);
+    throw("outputfile is null\n");
+  }
+  // set the options
+  curl_easy_setopt(meow, CURLOPT_URL, url.c_str());
+  curl_easy_setopt(meow, CURLOPT_WRITEFUNCTION, appendCurlOutputToString);
+  curl_easy_setopt(meow, CURLOPT_WRITEDATA, &woof);
+  // perform the request
+  res = curl_easy_perform(meow);
+  if (res != CURLE_OK){
+    throw("failed to perform the request\n");
+  }
+  writeHtmlFile(&woof, outputfile);
+  curl_easy_cleanup(meow);
+}
diff --git a/src/includes/getHttp.h b/src/includes/getHttp.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41b876f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/includes/getHttp.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef GETHTTP_H
+#define GETHTTP_H
+#include <string>
+void getHttp(std::string url, std::string *outputfile);
+#endif
+
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 4746423..cdc2100 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <cstring>
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <fstream>
+#include "includes/getHttp.h"
 #include <ios>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <ostream>
@@ -84,11 +85,15 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp) {
             if (argc == 7) {
             dir = ARGS[1+5];
             }
-              
-            // should be done with libcurl in the future ata
-            system(std::string {"curl https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=" + collectionid + " -o " + cachesc}.c_str());
 
-            std::cout << collectionid << user << pass << gameid << dir;
+            try {
+              getHttp(std::string {"https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=" + collectionid}, &cachesc);
+            }
+            catch(std::string& meow) {
+              std::cout << meow;
+              return 1;
+            }
+
             std::cout << "success1\n";
             break;
         }
@@ -102,11 +107,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp) {
             dir = ARGS[1+3];
             }
 
-            // should be done with libcurl in the future ata
-            system(std::string {"curl https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=" + collectionid + " -o " + cachesc}.c_str());
-
-            std::cout << collectionid << gameid << dir;
-
+            try {
+              getHttp(std::string {"https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=" + collectionid}, &cachesc);
+            }
+            catch(std::string& meow) {
+              std::cout << meow;
+              return 1;
+            }
+ 
             std::cout << "success\n";
             break;
             } else {