What it is
you-get is a small Python command-line utility that downloads video, audio, images and other files from supported web pages. It can also hand a resolved stream to a player. The project describes itself as a “dumb downloader”, which is both charming and reasonably accurate.
Best for
Use it when a supported page needs one straightforward command and you prefer a smaller interface to a book of format selectors. Its output-directory, filename, proxy and player switches cover the common cases without much study.
Avoid it if
The latest tagged release is 0.4.1743 from 4 January 2025 and the repository’s latest recorded commit in Stars is April 2025. Extractors age quickly. For broad current site support, active fixes and detailed format control, yt-dlp is the safer default. “Without restrictions” was never a defensible promise and has been removed.
Current state
Release 0.4.1743 repaired YouTube extraction and restored an output option for Miaopai. Official installation still recommends Python 3, with FFmpeg for media work. The tool is usable, but its release cadence now matters more than its historically large star count.
Alternatives
yt-dlp is the feature-rich and actively maintained default. Streamlink is better when the goal is watching a live stream in a player. JDownloader offers a visual batch workflow.
Why it belongs
It belongs as a clean example of the Unix-shaped media tool: give it a URL, receive a file or stream. The caveat is now part of the recommendation, not a footnote.
Get started
- Install:
python3 -m pip install -U you-get. - Inspect before downloading:
you-get --info <url>. - Download to a directory:
you-get -o <folder> <url>.
References (3)
Linked from streamlink: video streams ➞ your player, Linked from yt-dlp: the feature-rich downloader, Linked from The 5 Best Downloaders for Videos, Music & Images (No Browser Needed)