VolRen Video / Audio Downloader

Download YouTube video, audio, and thumbnails through a terminal UI.

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About

VolRen Downloader is a keyboard-driven TUI built around yt-dlp and ffmpeg.

The application starts with an update and dependency check, then guides the user through target selection, search, playlist handling, profile choice, download progress, and a session summary. System-installed binaries are preferred when available. Managed binaries can also be downloaded into the app data directory. node is optional and is used as a JS runtime when available. Browser cookies are auto-detected on Windows and Linux. The interface supports English and Russian and can be switched with Tab.

Features

• Unified stage-based TUI: update, dependencies, target, search, playlist, fragment, profile, download, summary
• Video, audio, and thumbnail downloads
• Best and economy video presets with yt-dlp quality scan
• Audio presets for MP3 320k, MP3 192k, M4A/AAC Best, Opus Best, and FLAC
• Optional fragment download for single video or audio jobs
• Open-ended fragments with start- / start+ and URL timestamp support
• YouTube search from the main screen with Ctrl+G
• Playlist browser with Space, a, and manual ranges via /
• Managed dependency refresh inside the UI with Ctrl+U
• Quick open for the downloads folder from the main screen and summary
• In-app download folder picker on supported platforms
• Per-session summary with success and failure history

Quick Start

Windows amd64

Download VolRenDownloader.exe from the latest release and run it.

Linux amd64

curl -L https://github.com/VolRencs/YouTubeDownloader/releases/latest/download/VolRenDownloader_linux_amd64 -o VolRenDownloader
chmod +x VolRenDownloader
./VolRenDownloader

Build From Source

Requires Go 1.26.2+.

git clone https://github.com/VolRencs/YouTubeDownloader
cd YouTubeDownloader
go build -trimpath -buildvcs=false -ldflags="-s -w" -o VolRenDownloader ./cmd/downloader
./VolRenDownloader

Build Windows Executable With Icon

The repository includes a Windows icon source at assets/icon/icon.ico.

go install github.com/akavel/rsrc@latest
./scripts/build-windows-downloader.sh VolRenDownloader.exe

Runtime Paths

The app uses standard user directories by default and supports overrides through environment variables:

• VOLREN_CONFIG_DIR for configuration files
• VOLREN_DATA_DIR for application data
• VOLREN_CACHE_DIR for cache data
• VOLREN_DEPS_DIR for managed binaries
• VOLREN_DOWNLOADS_DIR to lock the download location

Managed binaries default to the app data directory under deps/. If VOLREN_DOWNLOADS_DIR is not set, the TUI can persist a user-selected downloads folder.

TUI Flow

1. Start at the update and dependency check.
2. Paste a YouTube link on the target screen or press Ctrl+G to search.
3. If the target is a playlist, choose entries with Space, a, or /.
4. Choose Video, Audio, or Thumbnail mode.
5. Optionally choose a fragment for single video or audio downloads.
6. Watch progress in the download stage and review the session summary.

On startup:

1. yt-dlp and ffmpeg are treated as required dependencies.
2. If one of them is missing, the TUI opens the dependency screen before the main target screen.
3. node is optional and does not block the app.
4. Browser cookies and JS runtime status are detected automatically.

Controls

Key	Action
↑ / ↓	Move in menus
Enter	Continue
Space	Select item in playlist view
/	Enter playlist indices manually
Ctrl+G	Open YouTube search from the main target screen
Esc	Leave search or fragment input
a / а	Select all or clear all in playlists
Tab	Switch UI language
Ctrl+U	Open dependency management
Ctrl+O	Choose downloads folder
O	Open the downloads folder

Platforms

OS	Arch	yt-dlp	ffmpeg	node	App update
Windows	amd64	system or managed	system or managed	system or managed	.bat replace after close
Linux	amd64	system or managed	system or managed	system or managed	binary replace

Source Layout

Path	Role
cmd/downloader/	TUI entrypoint
tui/	Bubble Tea model, events, rendering, and widgets
internal/app/	runtime helpers: downloads, search, deps, updates, locale, playlists, and HTTP client
scripts/	build and verification helpers
assets/	icons and screenshots

Troubleshooting

yt-dlp fails to download
Check access to GitHub or install yt-dlp system-wide.

YouTube says “Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot”
Open the dependency screen and verify cookies and JS runtime status. If cookies are inactive, make sure a supported browser profile exists on the same machine.

HD merge or audio conversion fails
Make sure ffmpeg is available. If it is missing, install it through the dependency screen or provide a system copy.

Folder selection does not open
Check that the current platform has the required desktop integration available. You can still set VOLREN_DOWNLOADS_DIR directly.

Dependencies

Component	License
yt-dlp	Unlicense
ffmpeg	LGPL/GPL
Bubble Tea v2	MIT
Lip Gloss v2	MIT
godbus/dbus	BSD-2-Clause

Project source is MIT.

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Made by VolRen