DIR <- Back
# Idiotbox: Youtube interface
Last modification on 2021-12-25
Idiotbox is a less resource-heavy Youtube interface. For viewing videos it is
HTML recommended to use it with »mpv« or
HTML »mplayer« with
HTML »youtube-dl« or
HTML yt-dlp.
DIR For more (up-to-date) information see the »README« file.
## Why
In my opinion the standard Youtube web interface is:
* Non-intuitive, too much visual crap.
* Too resource-hungry, both in CPU and bandwidth.
* Doesn't work well on simpler (text-based) browsers such as netsurf and links.
## Features
* Doesn't use JavaScript.
* Doesn't use (tracking) cookies.
* CSS is optional.
* Multiple interfaces available: HTTP CGI, command-line, Gopher CGI (gph),
this is a work-in-progress.
* Doesn't use or require the Google API.
* CGI interface works nice in most browsers, including text-based ones.
* On OpenBSD it runs "sandboxed" and it can be compiled as a static-linked
HTML binary with »pledge(2)«,
HTML »unveil(2)« in a chroot.
## Cons
* Order by upload date is incorrect (same as on Youtube).
* Some Youtube features are not supported.
* Uses scraping so might break at any point.
## Clone
git clone git://git.codemadness.org/frontends
## Browse
You can browse the source-code at:
HTML * https://git.codemadness.org/frontends/
DIR * gopher://codemadness.org/1/git/frontends
## Download releases
Releases are available at:
HTML * https://codemadness.org/releases/frontends/
DIR * gopher://codemadness.org/1/releases/frontends
## View
HTML You can view it here: »https://codemadness.org/idiotbox/«
For example you can search using the query string parameter "q":
HTML https://codemadness.org/idiotbox/?q=gunther+tralala