you-get

Print media information about a specific media on the web

$ you-get --info [https://example.com/video?id=value]

$ you-get [https://example.com/video?id=value]

$ you-get [keywords]

$ you-get --output-dir [path/to/directory] --output-filename [filename] [https://example.com/watch?v=value]

$ you-get --http-proxy [proxy_server] [https://example.com/watch?v=value]

you-get [OPTIONS] URL...
Example: you-get -o ~/Videos "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=..."

-i, --info
    Displays all available video qualities and formats without downloading.

-o <DIR>, --output-dir <DIR>
    Specifies the directory where downloaded files will be saved.

-O <FILE>, --output-file <FILE>
    Defines the specific filename for the downloaded content.

-u <USERNAME>, --username <USERNAME>
    Provides login username for restricted content.

-p <PASSWORD>, --password <PASSWORD>
    Provides login password for restricted content.

--cookie-file <FILE>
    Uses cookies loaded from a Netscape-formatted file for authentication.

-x <HOST:PORT>, --proxy <HOST:PORT>
    Configures a proxy server for the download process.

--no-merge
    Prevents you-get from merging downloaded parts into a single file (requires ffmpeg).

--debug
    Enables verbose output for debugging purposes.

--playlist
    Downloads all items from a specified playlist URL.

--itag <ID>
    Selects a specific video quality or format using its itag identifier.

-F <FORMAT>, --format <FORMAT>
    Explicitly selects a video format from the available options.

-c, --continue
    Resumes an interrupted or partially completed download.

-v, --version
    Shows the program's version number and exits.

-h, --help
    Displays a help message and exits.

you-get is a powerful, open-source command-line utility for downloading various media content from websites. Written in Python, it excels at fetching videos, audio, and images from a wide array of platforms, including popular global sites like YouTube and Vimeo, as well as numerous Chinese streaming services such as Bilibili and Youku. Its primary function is to parse web pages, identify direct media links, and then download the content to your local machine. Key features include support for multiple video qualities, proxy configuration, resuming interrupted downloads, and handling login-required content. It serves as an invaluable tool for archiving media or enjoying content offline, making media accessible independent of internet connectivity.

you-get relies on parsing website structures, which can change frequently. This means an update to a website might temporarily break you-get's functionality until the tool itself is updated. Users should also be aware of the legal implications of downloading copyrighted content, as this varies by jurisdiction and the terms of service of the respective website. ffmpeg is often required for merging downloaded video parts, which is a common dependency.

you-get is typically installed via Python's package manager, pip:
`pip install you-get`.
Ensure Python and pip are correctly set up on your system.

For you-get to merge fragmented video files or convert formats, the ffmpeg tool must be installed and accessible in your system's PATH. Without it, you-get might download parts but fail to produce a single playable file.

Before downloading, use the -i or --info option with a URL to display all available qualities and formats for a video. This helps in selecting the desired version using --itag or --format.

you-get emerged as an open-source project primarily written in Python, initially gaining popularity for its strong support of Chinese video streaming platforms. Over time, its capabilities expanded to include a vast array of international sites, establishing it as a versatile tool for media downloading. Its development is community-driven, with ongoing contributions to adapt to changing website structures and add new features, making it a continuously evolving utility in the media downloading landscape.

yt-dlp(1), youtube-dl(1), wget(1), curl(1)