adanvdo / yt-red-ui

Windows .NET Framework GUI Application for Downloading Video and Audio Files from YouTube and Reddit

YT-RED-UI

Windows .NET Framework GUI Application for Downloading Video and Audio Files from YouTube, Reddit, Vimeo, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, and other popular media hosts.

News

10/19/2022 : Beta 1.0.2.0 Official Release Now Available

10/17/2022 : Beta 1.0.2.0 Release Coming 10/19

5/26/2022 : YT-RED IS NOW IN BETA STAGE!

We are out of alpha testing and moving to Beta. Please send any issues or enhancement requests by adding a new issue on GitHub.

View All Releases on GitHub

Table of Contents

• PROJECT STATUS
• ROADMAP
• ABOUT
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• REQUIREMENTS
• CURRENT FEATURES
• CONTACT

Overview

Project Status: In Beta

Latest Stable: N/A

Latest Beta: v1.0.2.0

Latest Alpha: v1.0.2.1

Updated 10/21/2022

Roadmap: The Future of YT-RED

Windows

YT-RED was built for Windows, targeting .NET Framework 4.8. Development of the original .NET Framework version will continue for the foreseeable future.

While YT-RED can only run on Windows at this time, a multi-platform version will be available in the future.

While development continues on the current Windows version, I will be collecting feedback from those who are using the Beta releases. All features and enhancements during this time will be used as the foundation of a new multi-platform version of the program.

Multi-Platform

Initial development has started on the multi-platform project YT-RED-MAUI However, further development will depend on the status of Linux support. If complications prevent development of a Linux compatible program, development will be restarted on a different App UI framework.

YT-RED Multi-Platform intended support:

• Windows
• Linux
• Android
• Chrome OS (Android)

I hope to create iOS and MacOS compatible versions at a later date. Due to Apple policies and requirements, development for MacOS and iOS is not feasible at this time

About YT-RED

YT-RED is a Windows .NET Framework GUI Application for Downloading Video and Audio Files from YouTube and Reddit

Screenshots from v1.0.1.20-alpha

Requirements

• Windows 7, 8, 10
• .NET Framework 4.8

Acknowledgements

Most of the the hard work that makes this possible was done thanks to many other awesome developers

YT-RED is built using the following open-source libraries

• YoutubeDLSharp
• Xabe.FFmpeg
• Newtonsoft.Json
• HtmlAgilityPack
• URIScheme

A lot of magic happens behind the scenes.

YT-RED uses the following open-source applications for downloads and post-processing

• yt-dlp
• FFmpeg

Current Features

• List Formats

  This will retrieve all video formats available to download. An individual format can be selected and downloaded.

• Format Selection Mode - Choose from one of two available selection modes

  1. Preset - Select a single format from one of the automatically generated format options
  2. Custom - Combine the audio and video format of your choice for a single merged file

• Download Best

  The "Download Best" option evaluates all available video and audio formats before downloading the best available.

  Note Download Best often requires downloading separate video and audio files, which are then merged after downloading. This can take a little longer than downloading a specific format.

• Download Segment

  The "Download Segment" option can be toggled on and off. This feature is only available when downloading a specific format in order to improve performance and reduce resource usage.

  Specify the start time of the segment, and the duration.

• Automatic ID3 Tagging

  When downloading audio, video thumbnails are automatically embedded as cover art, and titles are set to the video title.

• Crop Video

  The "Crop Video" option is available for all video downloads. The feature only accepts crop sizes in pixels at this time.

  Enter the number of pixels to crop on each desired side, and then start the download.

• Convert Format

  Specify a Video or Audio format for the resulting download. YT-RED will convert the original media to the format of your choice.

• Download History (Optional)

  When enabled, YT-RED will locally record each download, including settings. Download History can be configured to store download logs for the number of days specified. Recorded downloads can be redownloaded by right-clicking on the associated log and choosing the "re-download" option, or you can run a new download by choosing the "Use URL for New Download" option. Download History can be manually cleared in Settings, with the option to delete all associated download files.

• Quick Downloads

  Quick Download is only available when YT-RED has been minimized to the System Tray. Right-click on the YT-RED icon in the tray, and select "Quick Download" to open the Quick Download form.

• Quick Download Hotkey

  When the Quick Download Hotkey is enabled in advanced settings, YT-RED will register a custom Hotkey that initiates a Quick Download.

  To use, Highlight a youtube or reddit media post url in your browser, and press the configured hotkey. This will perform an automatic "Best Download" with the progress displayed above the system tray.

• Layout Options

  Change the position of certain panels for the layout you like.

• Update Assistant

  Check for updates and download release packages directly in the app. Optional Updater for one-click update installs Open Settings -> About and click the "Check for Update" button.

  

Contact

To report bugs or request enhancements, please submit a new Issue on GitHub

For all other inquiries, email [email protected]

Thank you for your support!

YT-RED - Copyright © 2022 JAMGALACTIC - WEAKNPC.COM

yt-red-ui's Issues

Download History does not refresh file status without interacting with the list

The File Status indicator in the Download History lists does not update automatically. You have to interact with the list or click on an item for the indicator to update.

Feature: YT Thumbnails as Audio Album Art

When downloading a YT Video as an MP3, provide an option to use the Video Thumbnail as the Artwork for the song in the ID3 info if possible

Expired Download History is not being removed

Download history that has expired is not being removed and remains displayed in history panel.

Create Independent Log Server

The alpha branch is currently using weaknpc.com for the api endpoint to store logs.
Create an independent api server at jmconcepts.net and move the log api to that server.

"Downloads Cleared" message is displayed when download deletion has been cancelled

if you cancel the deletion of downloads in the Settings Form, the message "downloads cleared" is still displayed.

Add Ability to Cancel System Tray Downloads

Add the ability to cancel a download in progress in the system tray (quick download or hotkey download)

Add Exception Handler with Local Logging

Add an Exception Handler that logs exceptions locally on the client machine.

Reddit Gif Download Support

Add Support for downloading GIF posts from reddit.

The underlying format of the GIF is actually a video file. Access to the gif url without the format=mp4 param results in 403
This may require conversion

Writing Error Logs to User AppData directory causes Windows Smart Screen to block exe

After adding the error logging functionality that stores logs in AppData, I downloaded the latest build on another PC and Windows Smart Screen blocked it from running.

I ran the windows app cert utility, and one of the things it checks for is that the app does not write to the Users directory.

Change this so error logs are stored in the app's directory

Closing the Quick Download form does not stop the current task

If you close the TrayForm while a download is in process, it continues to run in the background. This could cause some issues.

Add Crop Feature

Add the ability to crop videos. I'm not sure the best inputs to accept for this, but we can start with L,R,T,B pixels

Auto-Opening Download Locations is not working consistently

After release of v1.0.0.5, the option to open file downloads automatically is not working consistently. It looks like the location is not being registered until after windows explorer is opened.

Update All Message Boxes to use new Message Box

A custom message box was created in v1.0.0.10-alpha. Update all Message Boxes throughout the program to use the new Message Box.

Allow Column Customization in Format Grids

Allow users to customize the columns visible in the format grids

Add System Tray Support

Add the ability to minimize the program to the system tray.
If it is possible, add some context menu items that make a quick download easily accessible.

Create Windows Installer

Create a Windows Installer to optionally install the program.
This should support updates.

Add Duration to Youtube Format Grid

When retrieving the list of available formats for a youtube video, duration is not included in the grid.
See if a duration property is available, and if so, add it to the grid.

History Browser

Add a form to browse and manage download history

App does not use the correct download path

The app does not properly switch the download path for audio and video when the corresponding data-type is downloaded.

Clear Format List when new url is entered

After listing formats for a link, the list remains after a download is completed. When you enter a new url, the list formats button is disabled because of the state of the list at that time.

Clear the format list and reset the button state when a new URL is entered

Double-Clicking Download Log Does Not Open Correct Location

When you double click on the youtube download history log item, it does not always open the right folder location. Clicking the button above the history works properly

Youtube "Best" downloads are not converted to "preferred" format

When the option to use preferred file format is enabled and you "download best" youtube video, this tends to download the video file in vp9 format instead of h264 or avc1.

I am not sure if it's possible to change the encoding directly using ytdl, but currently no video recode format is specified for preferred downloads.

Design an Icon

Design an Icon and apply it to the app

KeyShortcut is not consistently serialized across machines

I loaded the app on my lenovo laptop and ran it once. The settings were saved a very broken format, and the Hotkey control became disabled in settings. The hotkey itself was stored in json as what looks like an object. I am not sure why.

"dl_hotkey": { "Key": 131153, "IsExist": true },``

it also includes an empty "About" and then another empty object at the bottom.

The app crashed a few times with a stack overflow exception in event viewer.

Add Voluntary Log Reporting

Add support for sending error logs to server.
This should be integrated in the Exception Handler #32

When an exception occurs and a message is displayed, include the option to upload the logs.
Create an async upload method that posts the log data to external api.

Add Support for Chrome/Firefox Browser Extension Communication

Add Support for communication from Chrome/Firefox Browser Extensions. This could be one of the following solutions:

• Native Messaging Support (Chrome)
• Custom Protocol Registration (Windows)
• Http Listener (least secure)

Segment and Crop Panels do not properly expand/collapse when clicking the header buttons

After implementing the click event on the groupbox for expanding/collapsing, the head buttons no longer work properly.
Remove the click event from the header buttons and this should fix the problem.

Add Command-Line Arguments to Support Predefined Functions on Launch

Add Command-Line Arguments to support executing predefined functions when the program starts.

• Initial Function [ListFormats, DownloadBest]
• Initial YT Link
• Initial Reddit Link

if any of these functions are passed, disable DevRun to prevent overriding the link values.

Download Hotkey Editor in Advanced Settings includes unsupported option

The picklist of Shortcuts in the Download Hotkey editor includes the option "(custom)" which is not a valid KeyShortcut and cannot be saved.

I tried to find a way to remove the option, but I had no luck. I may have to create a custom shortcut class with predefined options and use that instead of the KeyShortcut class it is currently using.

Unless I can figure out how to edit the options in the editor.

.NET Error when entering url in wrong tab

Handling is missing for scenario where a reddit url is entered on the youtube tab. This causes an unhandled .NET framework when the app tries to parse the url

"Use Preferences" option does not persist

The "Use Preferences" format option does not persist between runs.

Reddit tab form does not reset when entering a new url

The reddit tab form does not reset when a new URL is entered in the url box. Make this tab behave the same as the YT tab

Clean Up Files Feature

Add an option to clean up downloaded files, which deletes any files in the download history that still exist.
(include disclaimer regarding download history requirement)

Logger tries to write log file with illegal characters in filename

The exception handler does not format part of the file name correctly which results in the name containing illegal characters.

Emoji in Video Titles cause download/file browser issues

If a YouTube video has emoji in the title, it can cause problems with the download as well as issues locating the file after the download is complete. Video Titles should be stripped of all emoji

Folder Picker is not working for Download Location settings

In settings, a folder picker should be available to choose the download directories. It is currently only displayed as a text box.

Quick Download Hotkey Feature

Using the System Tray, add an option to register a hotkey for quick downloads.

Intended Behavior:

1. highlight youtube / reddit media url in browser
2. press registered hotkey
3. check if content exists on clipboard and store it temporarily if so.
4. copy url to clipboard
5. start best quality download using url on clipboard
6. restore original clipboard content

Add settings options to enable hotkeys.
Add setting to customize hotkey

Add "About" Section

Add an "About" section to the Settings Form. Add the following Read-Only fields to this section.

• Version
• Build
• GitHub
• Contact

Add Delete Download Options

Instead of deleting all downloads from the settings form, add options to delete downloaded videos, audio, or all.

Add Video Segment Support

Add support for downloading a segment of a video / audio clip

Feature: New Preference to automatically open download location after completed download

Add a preference that can be toggled to enable automatically opening the location of completed downloads.

YouTube Downloader does not support some URL formats

The YT downloader does not support the following types of URLs which can result in an unhandled exception and .NET Framework Crash.

• youtu.be URL's
• YouTube Short URL's youtube.com/shorts/[videoID]
• YT URL's with additional parameters
• other URL's that don't include watch?v=[videoID]

audio segments are saved with the wrong file extension and in the wrong directory

If the option to use preferred formats is enabled and you download a segment of audio from a youtube link, the audio file is saved with the preferred video extension and in the video download directory

Add Visual Style for when Segment or Crop features are enabled

Add a visual style (background color or font color) to the Segment and Crop feature boxes that makes it more apparent when either feature is enabled. Right now it is easy to overlook when the features are enabled/disabled which can cause some confusion

Prevent Multiple Instances

If multiple instances of YT-RED are run on the same machine it can cause a problem with Hotkey registration and use of the system tray.
Obtain the mutex for the app and prevent multiple instances from running.

Youtube Crop panel allows input when the feature is disabled

Do not allow input in the crop panel if the toggle is off.

Error if QDL Hotkey is enabled and KeyShortcut is set to None

Prevent the app from trying to register a hotkey if the key is set to none. An error occurs if this happens.

Add Settings Option to System Tray Context Menu

add a context menu option to the system tray that opens the settings form.

App crashes if clipboard is empty and hotkey is pressed

If QDL hotkey is enabled and pressed while no text is selected, the app crashes.

Optional Skins

Add skin selection to settings. Save the chosen skin for the user.