yewtube is a terminal-based YouTube player and downloader that requires no API key.
The tool solves the problem of accessing YouTube content from the command line without needing to obtain or manage API credentials. It works by leveraging the pafy library to interface with YouTube, allowing users to search for and stream both audio and video directly in the terminal. The approach eliminates the friction of API key setup while providing a lightweight alternative to browser-based playback.
Developers should choose this tool if they prefer working in the terminal and want a straightforward way to play or download YouTube content without authentication overhead. It suits workflows where command-line integration is valuable, such as scripting, remote server access, or minimalist desktop environments. The tool supports playing audio in VLC without a graphical interface, which distinguishes it from the parent mps-youtube project. Users need a media player installed—mplayer, mpv, or VLC—and optionally ffmpeg or avconv for format conversion. The README does not make direct comparisons to alternative tools.
The project maintains an active changelog documenting updates and improvements. Development includes attention to cross-platform compatibility, with support for Windows, Linux, and macOS. The tool is distributed through standard Python packaging channels and can be installed via pip or pipx, with both stable and development versions available.
