SSTube v2.1.0

SSTube is a powerful, open-source YouTube downloader application built with PyQt6 and yt-dlp. This release (v2.1.0) introduces enhanced cookie handling through a browser extension, multiple download modes (videos, playlists, channels, shorts, and MP3 extraction), and a refined user interface.

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Features

• Multiple Download Modes

  • Single Video / MP3 Only
    Download a single YouTube video or extract its audio as MP3.
  • Playlist Video / Playlist MP3
    Download an entire playlist with an option to select specific videos.
  • Channel Videos / Channel Videos MP3
    Download all videos (or extract audio) from a YouTube channel.
  • Channel Shorts / Channel Shorts MP3
    Focus on downloading YouTube Shorts.

• Cookie Extension Support

  • Secure Cookie File Import:
    Instead of automatic browser cookie extraction, SSTube now relies on a cookie file exported by the "Get cookies.txt Locally" extension.
  • Guided Workflow:
    If the extension isn’t installed, SSTube will automatically open the extension’s page in your selected browser, then prompt you to export and select your YouTube cookie file.
  • Validation:
    SSTube verifies that the selected cookie file contains YouTube cookies to ensure proper authentication.

• Modern PyQt6 Interface

  • Intuitive sidebar navigation for quick access to Download and Activity pages.
  • Real-time status updates and activity logs.

• Flexible Quality Options

  • Choose from “Best Available” or specific resolutions (8K, 4K, 1080p, etc.) for video downloads.
  • MP3 extraction defaults to 320 kbps audio quality.

• Lightweight & Easy to Use

  • Single-file application (SSTube.py) plus a few assets.
  • Minimal external dependencies.

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Folder Structure

SSTube/
├── SSTube.py
├── LICENSE
├── README.md
├── requirements.txt
├── .gitignore
├── assets/
│   ├── Favicon.png
│   ├── download.png
│   ├── activity.png
│   └── video-favicon.png
├── bin/
│   └── ffmpeg.exe
└── screenshots/
    └── (optional images or screenshots)

• SSTube.py — Main application code (PyQt6 & yt-dlp logic).
• requirements.txt — Python dependencies.
• assets/ — Icons and images for the GUI.
• bin/ — Contains ffmpeg.exe (required for merging audio/video streams).
• screenshots/ — Optional folder for screenshots and additional images.

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Requirements

• Python 3.8+
• ffmpeg (already included in bin/ffmpeg.exe on Windows)
• yt-dlp
• PyQt6

(Install all dependencies via pip install -r requirements.txt.)

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Installation

1. Clone or Download this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/UKR-PROJECTS/SSTube.git
   cd SSTube

2. (Optional) Create a Virtual Environment:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate      # On Windows use: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install Dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Ensure ffmpeg is Accessible:

   • Confirm that bin/ffmpeg.exe exists. If you're on another platform, adjust the path or install ffmpeg separately.

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Usage

1. Run the Application:

   python SSTube.py

   The SSTube GUI will open.

2. Cookie Login Feature

   • Click File > Login from the menu bar.
   • A dialog will prompt you to select the browser you use for YouTube login.
   • You will then be asked if you have installed the "Get cookies.txt Locally" extension.
     • If Yes:
       You’ll be prompted to select the exported cookie file. SSTube validates the file to ensure it contains YouTube cookies.
     • If No:
       The extension’s page will be opened in your selected browser so you can install it. After installing, export your cookies and then select the exported cookie file.
   • Once a valid cookie file is selected, SSTube uses it for authentication and access to restricted YouTube content.

3. Download Workflow

   • Go to the Download page via the sidebar.
   • Enter the YouTube URL (video, playlist, channel, or shorts).
   • Select a save location for the downloads.
   • Choose the appropriate Download Mode and, if applicable, set the video quality.
   • Click Download to add the task to the queue.

4. Activity Log

   • Use the Activity page to monitor real-time logs and download progress.

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Screenshots

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Building the Executable

You can use PyInstaller to package SSTube as a standalone executable. For example:

pyinstaller --onefile --windowed --icon "assets/Favicon.png" --add-data "assets;assets" --add-data "bin;bin" SSTube.py

This command creates a single executable (SSTube.exe) in the dist/ folder.

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please follow these steps:

1. Fork the project on GitHub.
2. Create a new branch (e.g., feature/new-feature).
3. Commit your changes with clear messages.
4. Submit a Pull Request with a detailed description of your changes.

For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

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Acknowledgments

• yt-dlp for the robust downloading backend.
• PyQt6 for the powerful GUI framework.
• ffmpeg for multimedia processing.
• Thanks to all the contributors and testers!

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Enjoy using SSTube! If you encounter any issues or have suggestions, please open an issue or submit a pull request.

This README.md provides a complete overview of SSTube v2.1.0 with detailed instructions on using the cookie extension feature, installation, usage, building, and contribution guidelines.