How to use the command 'youtube-viewer' (with examples)

The youtube-viewer command is a user-friendly tool for accessing YouTube content directly from the command line. It provides various features such as searching for videos, logging into your YouTube account, playing videos with a specific player like VLC, and displaying interactive search prompts. It is particularly useful for those who prefer interacting with YouTube via the terminal, offering speed and convenience without the overhead of a web browser.

Use case 1: Search for a video

Code:

youtube-viewer search_term

Motivation:

Imagine that you are in the middle of a coding session and you need to quickly reference a tutorial video on a specific programming concept—say “Node.js error handling”. Opening a web browser may be disruptive and break your flow. By using youtube-viewer with a search term, you can swiftly locate the required video without leaving the terminal environment. This functionality is immensely time-saving and efficient for developers and terminal enthusiasts who wish to stay within an all-text workflow.

Explanation:

• youtube-viewer: This is the command to invoke the tool.
• search_term: This is a placeholder for whatever topic or keyword you want to search for on YouTube. It’s the same as typing a query into the YouTube search bar.

Example Output:

1. Node.js Error Handling Best Practices - Tutorial
2. Common Node.js Errors and How to Fix Them
3. Node.js Async Programming - Error Handling Best Practices
...
Choose a video number to play (q to quit):

Use case 2: Log in to your YouTube account

Code:

youtube-viewer --login

Motivation:

Some users might want to access their playlists or subscriptions from their YouTube accounts directly via youtube-viewer. Logging into your account enables you to interact with personalized content, such as your saved playlists, liked videos, and subscription feed. This is especially useful if you rely heavily on YouTube content that you’ve curated, and prefer to access it seamlessly from the command line.

Explanation:

• youtube-viewer: This initiates the command line tool.
• --login: This flag prompts the tool to take you through the login process, where you will enter your account information securely.

Example Output:

Please log in through your browser using this URL:
https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/auth?....
Waiting for authentication...
Successfully logged in as [Your Email]

Use case 3: Watch a video with a specific URL in VLC

Code:

youtube-viewer --player=vlc https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Motivation:

You might have a direct URL to a YouTube video, and you wish to play it using a media player that’s already set up for optimal playback on your system. VLC Media Player is often the go-to choice for users due to its flexibility and comprehensive codec support. By using this use case of youtube-viewer, you bypass the web interface entirely and enjoy a smooth viewing experience through VLC.

Explanation:

• youtube-viewer: Starts the Youtube Viewer tool.
• --player=vlc: This specifies that VLC should be used as the media player for the video.
• https://youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ: The URL is the direct link to the video you wish to watch. This link can be replaced with any YouTube video link.

Example Output:

Starting VLC with the selected video...

Use case 4: Display a search prompt and play the selected video in 720p

Code:

youtube-viewer -7

Motivation:

Sometimes you want a quick way to search and play videos in a specific resolution, like 720p, which offers a solid balance between quality and bandwidth usage. The search prompt feature allows you to enter search terms interactively, making it easier to find and choose the video you want to watch. This feature is particularly useful when video quality matters but bandwidth might be constrained.

Explanation:

• youtube-viewer: Opens the YouTube Viewer tool.
• -7: This option triggers an interactive search prompt and ensures that the video is played back in 720p resolution if available.

Example Output:

Search: Node.js tutorials
1. Learn Node.js - Best Practices for Beginners [720p]
2. Advanced Node.js Patterns for Developers [720p]
3. Node.js Tutorial for JavaScript Developers [480p]
...
Choose a video number to play (q to quit):

Conclusion:

The youtube-viewer command is a powerful and versatile tool for users who want to manage and watch YouTube content directly from their terminal. Whether searching for a new tutorial, accessing personalized content, or enjoying videos with a player of choice, youtube-viewer caters to a wide range of preferences and requirements, all while maintaining a simple and effective command-line interface.