YTFZF(1) General Commands Manual YTFZF(1) NAME ytfzf - search and play videos SYNOPSIS ytfzf [options] [search-query] ytfzf [options] - DESCRIPTION ytfzf is a POSIX script that helps you find videos from Youtube, Peertube or Odysee (without API) and opens/downloads them using mpv/youtube-dl. SEARCH OPERATORS Search operators are special search queries. Standard search operators include: :help Prints a possibly brief description of how to use the scraper. Addon scrapers may have more or less search operators SHORTCUTS These shortcuts will apply in any menu that supports it. The only menu that currently supports it is fzf. Shortcuts starting with alt, will exit the menu, shortcuts starting with ctrl will not. To change any of the defaults set the corresponding variable in your configuration file. download alt-d (download_shortcut) watch video alt-v (video_shortcut) audio only alt-m (audio_shortcut) detatch alt-e (detach_shortcut) print link alt-l (print_link_shortcut) show formats alt-f (show_formats_shortcut) show all info alt-i (info_shortcut) new search alt-s (search_again_shortcut) scrape next page ctrl-p (next_page_action_shortcut) OPTIONS Information -h, --help Show help text. --version Show ytfzf's version. How to play the selected videos. -d, --download Download the selected videos. This can also be set in the config file with is_download. -m, --audio-only Play audio only. This can also be set in the config file with is_audio_only. -f, --formats Show available formats before proceeding. --format-selection=screen The format selection screen type to use. Types: normal simple This can also be set in the config file with format_selection_screen. --format-sort=sort The --format-sort to use in ytdl. This can also be set in the config file with format_selection_sort. --video-pref=pref Set the ytdl video format to pref. This can also be set in the config file with video_pref. --audio-pref=pref Set the ytdl audio format to pref. This can also be set in the config file with audio_pref. --ytdl-pref=pref Set the ytdl format to pref. This can also be set in the config file with ytdl_pref. --detach Detach the video player from the terminal. This can also be set in the config file with is_detach. -u, --url-handler=handler The function/program to use as a url handler. This can also be set in the config file by adding load_url_handler . -I option Instead of playing the selected videos, get information about them in the selected format. The available options are: L|l|link Prints the URL of the selected videos. VJ|vj|video-json Prints the json of the selected videos. J|j|json Prints the json of all the videos in the search results. F|f|format Prints the video format being used. R|r|raw Prints the data of the selected videos, as appears in the menu. -L Alias for -I L --info-action=Iaction The action to do when --info-wait is 1. info_wait_action. --info-wait=number Whether or not to wait after printing info requested with -I or -L. This can also be set in the config file with info_wait. --url-handler-opts=opts Opts to pass to the url handler, by default this will pass extra opts to mpv. This can also be set in the config file with url_handler_opts. Menu options -l, --loop Reopen the menu when the video stops playing. This can also be set in the config file with is_loop. -s, --search-again After closing fzf make another search. This can also be set in the config file with search_again. -t, --show-thumbnails Show thumbnails. Doesn't work with -D or -H. This can also be set in the config file with show_thumbnails. --async-thumbnails Whether or not to download thumbnails asynchronously. Downloading asynchronously will open the menu before all thumbnails are downloaded. This can also be set in the config file with async_thumbnails. --skip-thumb-download Whether or not to skip the thumbnail download. This is used if you want to not have thumbnails, or use custom thumbnails in $YTFZF_CUSTOM_THUMBNAILS_DIR. For more info see CUSTOM THUMBNAILS in ytfzf(5) This can also be set in the config file with skip_thumb_download. --notify-playing Show notifications when a video is about to be played, and other notifications relating to playing videos. This can also be set in the config file with notify_playing. --preview-side=side The preview side in fzf. Options: left right up down This can also be changed in the config file with fzf_preview_side. -T, --thumb-viewer=program Use program for displaying thumbnails. Built-in programs: chafa,chafa-16,chafa-tty chafa, chafa with 16 colors, chafa with 4 colors. catimg,catimg-256 catimg, catimg with 256 colors. imv Good with tiling window managers. mpv Similar to imv. swayimg Only works on the sway wayland compositor. swayimg-hyprland Only works on the hyprland compositor. Uses swayimg to render an image. Additional viewers can be put into $YTFZF_THUMBNAIL_VIEWERS_DIR. This can also be changed in the config file by adding load_thumbnail_viewer . -D, --external-menu Use an external menu instead of fzf. The default is dmenu. This can also be set in the config file with interface="ext". -i, --interface=interface Use a custom interface script, which would be in $YTFZF_CUSTOM_INTERFACES_DIR. This can also be set in the config file by adding load_interface . --sort Sorts videos (after scraping) by upload date. This can also be set in the config file by adding is_sort. --sort-name=name Calls a function set in $YTFZF_CONFIG_FILE. Or sources a script in $YTFZF_SORT_NAMES_DIR (if it exists). See SORT NAMES in ytfzf(5) for more information. --fancy-subs Whether or not to have a separator between each subscription. When this option is used it automatically disables --sort as it will mess up this option. This can also be set in the config file with fancy_subs. --disable-back Whether or not to disable the back button in submenus. This can also be set in the config file with enable_back_button. --disable-actions Whether or not to disable actions such as submenus and the back button. This can also be set in the config file with enable_actions. --disable-submenus Whether or not to disable submenus. Submenus are the menus that happen after a playlist or channel (currently only supported by youtube/invidious) is selected This can also be set in the config file with enable_submenus. --keep-vars Whether or not options passed into ytfzf also get passed into submenus. This can also be set in the config file with keep_vars. --submenu-opts=opts The opts to use in the submenu. This can also be set in the config file with submenu_opts. --submenu-scraping-opts=opts DEPRECATED (use --submenu-opts instead) Does the same thing as --submenu-opts. This can also be set in the config file with submenu_scraping_opts. Auto selecting -a, --auto-select Auto-play the first result. -A, --select-all Select all results. -r, --random-select Auto-play a random result. -S sed address, --select=sed address Auto-play a specific video. Examples: 2 Select the second video $ Select the last video /^h/ Select all videos starting with h -n number, --link-count=number The number of videos to select with -a or -r. Scrapers -c scrapers, --scrape=scrapers Set which scraper to use. Multiple scrapers can be separated by comma (,). The currently supported builtin scrapers are: youtube|Y Scrapes invidious' api with a search query youtube-channel Scrapes a youtube channel with youtube invidious-channel Scrapes a youtube channel with $invidious_instance When this scrape is active the search query is the link to a channel. video-recommended|R Scrapes recommended videos from an invidious video link youtube-playlist|invidious-playlist Scrapes a youtube playlist When this scrape is active the search query is the link to a playlist. youtube-trending|T Scrapes invidious' api to get youtube trending. When this scrape is active the search query is the tab of trending to scrape. from-cache Scrapes a previous scrape that happened using --keep-cache from the saved cache. M|multi Uses ytfzf recursively to scrape multiple things with multiple different options See ytfzf -c M :help for more info Tabs: gaming music movies youtube-subscriptions|S|SI SI Scrapes invidious for channels instead of youtube. Scraping youtube may result in rate limiting. scrape-list|SL uses your $YTFZF_SCRAPELIST_FILE as scrape and search input. See "scrape lists" ytfzf(5) for more information. peertube|P odysee|lbry|O history|H (Only if $enable_hist is enabled) url|U Opens the url in the video player and exits u Treats the url as an item, and will open fzf, or the external menu. comments Scrapes the comments of a video link from youtube -H, --history Alias for -c H. Scrapes history file. --scrape+=scrapers Same as -c, but keeps the default scrape as well. --scraper-=scrapers Removes scraper from list of scrapers to use --multi-search Whether or not to use multi search. To use multi search, separate each search with a comma, this works well when using multiple scrapers. This can also be set in the config file with multi_search. --force-youtube When using the youtube scraper, convert the invidious links to youtube links before playing/downloading. --force-invidious When using the youtube scraper, use whatever invidious instance was chosen instead of converting to youtube links. Scraper Options Currently, --video-duration, --type, --thumbnail-quality, and --features only applies to the scrape: youtube/Y --pages=amount Amount of pages to scrape on youtube/invidious, and the comments scraper. This can also be set in the config file with pages_to_scrape. --pages-start=page The page to start on. This can also be set in the config file with pages_start. --max-threads=amount Amount of threads that can be used to scrape youtube search, playlists, and channels. (this does not apply to the subscription scraper). This can also be set in the config file with max_thread_count. --single-threaded Set the max_thread_count to 1, this has the same effect as making everything single threaded. (this does not apply to the subscription scraper). This can also bet set in the config file with max_thread_count=1. --odysee-video-count=amount Amount of videos to scrape on odysee. This can also be set in the config file with odysee_video_search_count. --nsfw Whether or not to search for nsfw videos. Only works with odysee/O This can also be set in the config file with nsfw. --sort-by=sort Works with youtube/Y and odysee/O. To use a different sort for each scrape, use comma (,) to separate the sorts. As apposed to --sort, this happens during the search, not after. Results should sort by: relevance rating (youtube only) upload_date oldest_first (odysee only) view_count (youtube only) --upload-date=time-frame Works with youtube/Y and odysee/O To use a different sort for each scrape, use comma (,) to separate the dates. Search for videos within the last: hour today week month year --video-duration=duration Whether or not to search for long or short videos. Possible options: short long --type=type The type of results to get. video playlist channel all --thumbnail-quality=quality Select the quality of the thumbnails. Available options: maxres maxresdefault sddefault high (default) medium default start The first frame of the video (low quality) middle The middle frame of the video (low quality) end The end frame of the video (low quality) --features=features The features to have on a video (comma separated). hd subtitles creative_commons 3d live 4k 360 location hdr --region The region (country code) to search. Supported by the scrapes youtube/Y and youtube-trending/T Miscellaneous --ii=instance,--invidious-instance=instance Use a different invidious instance. --rii,--refresh-inv-instance If this flag is provided, refresh instance cache with healthy instances using Invidious API --available-inv-instances Prints the invidious instances that may be used and exits. --channel-link=link Converts channel links from 'https://youtube.com/c/name' to 'https://youtube.com/channel/id' -q Use search history instead of a search. This can also be set in the config file with search_source=hist. --search-source The source to use for the search query. Valid values include: args Use commandline arguments as the search (default) prompt Ask for a search via a prompt hist Use search history. next Used internally to use the next search in the list when multi_search is enabled. fn-args Used internally to use the function arguments passed to the function as the source. A custom search source may be used if a function called get_search_from_ exists. The function must set the _search variable to a search. -x, --history-clear= Clear search and watch history (if -x or --history-clear is used) To specify either search or watch history use --history-clear= --keep-cache Whether or not to keep cache after ytfzf exists. This can also be set in the config file with keep_cache. --ytdl-opts=option Pass command-line options to youtube-dl when downloading. example: --ytdl-opts= --ytdl-path=path Specify the path to youtube-dl or a fork of youtube-dl for downloading. This can also be set in the config file with ytdl_path. -e, --ext=extension Load an extension. You may also add load_extension extension to your config file. --list-addons Lists all addons and exits. --thumbnail-log Sets the file to log thumbnail debug info to. This can also be set in the config file with thumbnail_debug_log. CONFIGURATION The default behaviour of ytfzf can be changed by modifying the config file. See ytfzf(5) for more information. ADDONS There are a few types of addons, interfaces (-i, --interface) scrapers (-c, --scrape) sort-names (--sort-name) thumbnail-viewers (-T, --thumb-viewer) url-handlers (-u, --url_handler) extensions (-e, --ext) To install an addon, place the addon in $YTFZF_SYSTEM_ADDON_DIR//addon-name To use an addon, use one of the options listed above, or add load_interface scrape= load_sort_name load_thumbnail_viewer load_url_handler load_extension In your configuration file EXIT CODES 0 Success 1 General error 2 Invalid --option, option value, or configuration error. 3 Missing dependency 5 Empty search ENVIRONMENT $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR The directory to store config files. The default is $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/ytfzf (or ~/.config/ytfzf) $YTFZF_CONFIG_FILE The configuration file to use. The default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/conf.sh $YTFZF_SUBSCRIPTIONS_FILE The subscriptions file to use. The default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/subscriptions $YTFZF_SCRAPELIST_FILE The scrapelist file to use. The default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/scrapelist $YTFZF_THUMBNAIL_VIEWERS_DIR The directory to keep additional thumbnail viewers. The default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/thumbnail-viewers $YTFZF_CUSTOM_SCRAPERS_DIR The directory to store custom scraper scripts in The default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/scrapers $YTFZF_CUSTOM_INTERFACES_DIR The directory to store custom interface scripts in the default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/interfaces $YTFZF_SORT_NAMES_DIR The directory to store custom sort-name scripts in the default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/sort-names $YTFZF_URL_HANDLERS_DIR The directory to store custom url handlers in the default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/url-handlers $YTFZF_CUSTOM_THUMBNAILS_DIR The directory to store custom thumbnails the default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/thumbnails $YTFZF_EXTENSIONS_DIR The directory to store extensions the default is $YTFZF_CONFIG_DIR/extensions $YTFZF_SYSTEM_ADDON_DIR The directory to store system installed addons. The default may vary depending on how you installed ytfzf. $YTFZF_CHECK_VARS_EXISTS Whether or not to check if variables are set in the environment before setting default values. The default is 1 $YTFZF_TEMP_DIR The temporary directory The default is is $TMPDIR/ytfzf-$user-id. If $TMPDIR is not defined it will use /tmp FILES ~/.config/ytfzf/conf.sh The configuration file. If submenu-conf.sh does not exist, this will also be used as the config in submenus ~/.config/ytfzf/submenu-conf.sh The submenu configuration file ~/.config/ytfzf/subscriptions The subscriptions file. CACHE Each instance of ytfzf has its own directory in $YTFZF_TEMP_DIR, if $keep_cache is enabled, it uses $cache_dir instead. The structure of each instance folder looks like this: (<> represents a placeholder, ? means optional) If an addon scraper is used, it may use undocumented files. $cache_dir | -- watch_hist | -- - | | -- created-at | | -- searches.list | | -- post-scrape | | -- -? | | -- thumbnails? | | -- environment | | -- tmp | | | -- curl_config | | | -- .html | | | -- .json | | | -- .json.final? | | | -- menu_keypress | | | -- all-ids.list | | | -- downloaded-ids.list | | -- ids | | -- videos_json An explanation of each directory/file: created-at Contains the unix timestamp when the folder was created searches.list A list of all searches If --multi-search is enabled, each search is separated by a new line watch_hist The watch history file. - An instance's parent folder. If no search was given it uses the name "SCRAPE--" instead. post-scrape A folder that contains files relating to the scraping of a selected result. - Created when a submenu is opened (eg: when a channel/playlist is selected). thumbnails Stores the thumbnails for the instance (only with -t). environment Every variable that is set and it's value, in that instance of ytfzf tmp Stores less important temporarily used files. curl_config The configuration file for curl for downloading thumbnails (only with -t). .html For scrapers that need to scrape websites, this is the output of curl. .json The json scraped from a website. .json.final The final json scraped from a website. (Is used when multiple threads are used for scraping) menu_keypress The key pressed in fzf. all-ids.json File that contains all scraped ids. Mainly to compare against downloaded-ids.json downloaded-ids.json File that contains which thumbnails have been downloaded ids The file that stores the id of each selected video. videos_json The file that stores a json of all videos displayed in fzf. This file is very helpful for making playlists as it is in the same format. AUTHOR Originally written by pystardust. BUGS Report bugs on github SEE ALSO ytfzf(5) youtube-dl(1), mpv(1) fzf(1) dmenu(1) COPYRIGHT ytfzf is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 as published by the Free Software Foundation. ytfzf is distributed in the hope that it will be useful but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with ytfzf. If not, see . ytfzf 2.0 2021 September YTFZF(1)