# AVideo

AVideo /ævə'dɛjo:/ is a powerful, 100% libre video and audio downloader for GNU/Linux. With your freedom and privacy a \#\1 priority, avideo offers you peace of mind in watching everything from world news and documentaries to the latest cat videos.

## Why AVideo?

AVideo builds on the power of the infamous youtube-dl to ensure that the user's liberty is not sacrificed.

YouTube-DL incorporates JS, SWF, and SDK interpreters in order to deliver some functionality. However, packaging these runs contrary to delivering freedom as a number 1 priority.

It was discovered in 2017 on the [Trisquel GNU/Linux fora](https://trisquel.info/en/forum/do-youtube-dlhtml5-video-everywhere-run-nonfree-js) that youtube\-dl included the quite unexpected functionality to run JavaScript.
Further investigation by Grace Past revealed this to be a component of [DRM on YouTube](https://superuser.com/questions/773719/how-do-all-of-these-save-video-from-youtube-services-work#answer-773998), meaning the non-free code sourced from YouTube is an
[unethical means](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/proprietary.html) to an [unethical end](https://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm_digital_restrictions_management). Thus, in order to provide you with control over your computer, such a sacrifice unfortunately must be made.

Similar reasoning applies to the other cases of interpreters for non-free software packaged with the parent. If any methods of addressing these issues arise that allow them to be attacked without compromising core values, they shall be promptly implemented;
however, aside from such a possible workaround, it is avideo's aim to avoid compromising [user freedom](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html).

## Releases
Executable zipfiles and debian packages for current releases, as well as source code, can be found at [the releases page](https://notabug.org/GPast/avideo/wiki/Downloads). Instructions for installation are available in [the User Documentation](https://notabug.org/GPast/avideo/wiki/User+Documentation).
If you already have the software installed, instructions for updating are also available in the user docs.

## Contributing
If you'd like to contribute, we'd enthusiastically welcome you to join us! There's always room for beta testers\- just go to the [Downloads](https://notabug.org/GPast/avideo/wiki/Downloads) page, download and install a beta listing, and give it a spin \(although preferably not in a high-stakes environment...\). If you've got some skills to offer, though, then there might be a good place to put them to work.

For coders, work on [issues](https://notabug.org/GPast/avideo/issues) is appreciated. Adding features or re\-designing components in need of a fix is also a great way to contribute. A list of suggestions can be found in 'TODO.txt', but don't let that limit you! However, before you get your hands into the source, please read the [Developer Documentation](https://notabug.org/GPast/avideo/wiki/Developer+Documentation) to understand what you're dealing with.

For those with linguistic prowess, documentation and/or translation are always in short supply. If you also have some coding skills, making the software more translator\-friendly would be appreciated *immensely*. It appears that avideo is English-only at present, contrary to its mission to bring freedom to everybody.
