Invidious an open source front-end alternative to YouTube
Invidious is an alternative front-end to YouTube, Invidious does not use the official YouTube API, instead it parses the source code of the YouTube site to get the necessary information (such as projects like youtube-dl and NewPipe.
While processing most user requests through the server it is installed on, which positively affects users. The project code is written in the Crystal programming language, uses the PostgreSQL DBMS and is distributed under the AGPLv3 + license.
Invidious indeed is analogous to the rather popular earlier web service HookTube , whose author, in July last year (a week after Invidious was announced), received a warning letter from Google about his violation of the YouTube API terms of use and was forced to stop "Normal" work of your service.
The main purpose of HookTube was to send user requests to Google's servers (YouTube), which, although it improved the privacy of users and also allowed them to view and download videos (including those with geo-restrictions, for example).
Invidious is currently on a monthly release cycle y is intended to provide administrators of their own Invidious instances with more or less relevant and stable source code enhancements.
Invidious Features
invidious It allows users to watch YouTube videos without advertising and without Google tracking. At this point, the Invidious API uses the FreeTube app, MusicPiped music player, and the CloudTube website.
On the other hand, the possibility of importing / exporting subscriptions in Invidious is also highlighted (including NewPipe format), browsing history and settings. RSS support for YouTube feeds and custom feeds.
As well as the ability to manage subscriptions, to show only unvisited videos and the most recent videos, delivery of notifications about new videos, import of subscriptions from YouTube. Another pretty cool feature of Invidious is the ability to embed Invidious videos on other sites' pages. Both directly and from YouTube (using a script).
It is also noteworthy that Invidious provides its own API for developers. Of the other features that can be highlighted in this front-end we find:
- Audio only mode (no need to keep window open on mobile)
- Free software (AGPLv3 license)
- In Invidious there are no ads or user tracking
- No need to create a Google account to save subscriptions
- Lightweight (homepage is ~ 4KB compressed)
- Dark mode
- Integrated stand
- Set the default player options (speed, quality, autoplay, loop).
- The ability to view the video without including JavaScript
- Support for Reddit comments instead of YT comments
- Doesn't use any of YouTube's official APIs
- Bypass blocking in case the video is not available for the user's country
- Developer API
Those interested in trying Invidious should know whate can visit the web page where the service is installed the link is this.
Or they can download the code from the front-end and mount it personally on a server.
How to install Invidious?
For those interested in mounting this front-end on a server or on their system on their personal computer. But before it is necessary to have some dependencies necessary for the operation of Invidious, so we have to install them first.
If they are Users of Arch Linux, Manjaro, Antergos or any other derivative of Arch linux should open a terminal and type the following:
sudo pacman -S shards crystal imagemagick librsvg postgresql