You-Get is a command-line utility that downloads media content from the web by scraping sites when no official download method is available.
The tool addresses the problem of retrieving videos, audio, and images from websites where direct downloading is blocked or inconvenient. It works by identifying the underlying media URLs on supported sites and downloading them directly, bypassing web player interfaces and associated restrictions. The approach allows users to stream content in their own media player without ads or to save media for offline access. You-Get also supports downloading arbitrary binary files and can scrape images from web pages.
The tool suits users who want control over media they consume online, prefer open-source solutions over proprietary technologies like Flash, or need to work around download restrictions on popular video platforms. It supports a substantial list of sites including YouTube, Youku, and Niconico. The README frames You-Get as a solution for those who value the open web and free software principles, positioning it as an alternative to relying on closed-source browser plugins or proprietary download tools.
Development on the project is sparse and infrequent, with long gaps between updates. The maintainer has explicitly deprioritized the conventional issues workflow in favor of alternative contribution channels. The project maintains separate stable and development branches, with the development branch receiving occasional hotfixes for newly broken site scrapers, though these updates come irregularly.
