you-get — Command-Line Video and Media Downloader

Introduction

you-get is a command-line utility for downloading media content from the web. It supports 80+ sites out of the box and requires no account or API key. Written in Python, it handles videos, audio tracks, and images with a single command.

What you-get Does

• Downloads videos from YouTube, Bilibili, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and 80+ other sites
• Extracts audio or image content when video is not available
• Streams online videos directly to a local media player like mpv or VLC
• Resumes interrupted downloads automatically
• Supports proxy configurations for region-restricted content

Architecture Overview

you-get is a pure Python application that parses web pages to extract media URLs. It resolves video metadata, selects the best available quality, and downloads content using chunked HTTP transfers. Site-specific extractors are modular, making it straightforward to add support for new platforms.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via pip: pip install you-get or pipx install you-get
• Requires Python 3.7 or later and FFmpeg for merging streams
• Set HTTP/SOCKS proxy with --http-proxy or --socks-proxy flags
• Choose output directory with -o and filename with -O
• Use -p to pipe playback directly to mpv or another player

Key Features

• Zero-configuration downloads from 80+ video and media sites
• Automatic quality selection with manual override via --format
• Built-in stream-to-player mode for instant playback without saving
• JSON output mode (--json) for scripting and automation
• Playlist and channel batch downloads with a single URL

Comparison with Similar Tools

• yt-dlp — more actively maintained with broader site coverage; you-get offers a simpler interface for common use cases
• gallery-dl — focuses on image galleries and artwork sites; you-get covers video sites more broadly
• annie (lux) — Go-based alternative with similar goals; you-get has a longer track record and larger community
• streamlink — specializes in live stream extraction; you-get targets on-demand video downloads

FAQ

Q: Does you-get work with YouTube? A: Yes. It can download individual videos, playlists, and channels from YouTube in various quality levels.

Q: How do I select video quality? A: Run you-get --info URL to list available formats, then use --format=FORMAT or --itag=ITAG to pick one.

Q: Can I use you-get behind a proxy? A: Yes. Pass --http-proxy HOST:PORT or --socks-proxy HOST:PORT on the command line.

Q: Is FFmpeg required? A: FFmpeg is needed for merging separate audio and video streams. Install it via your system package manager.

Sources

• https://github.com/soimort/you-get
• https://you-get.org/