https://github.com/keredson/gtktube
A native YouTube frontend for Linux.
https://github.com/keredson/gtktube
Last synced: 11 days ago
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A native YouTube frontend for Linux.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/keredson/gtktube
- Owner: keredson
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2026-06-10T18:39:06.000Z (18 days ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-06-10T20:20:54.000Z (18 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-06-10T21:14:00.003Z (18 days ago)
- Language: Python
- Size: 5.35 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# GTKTube
GTKTube is a local privacy-first Python/GTK4 YouTube player for Linux.
It stores subscriptions and viewing history locally in SQLite, and does not require a Google account.
The feed has no algorithm. It just shows recent videos from the channels you subscribe to.
## Features
- Browse recent videos from your subscribed channels without YouTube recommendations.
- Watch without ads.
- No tracking by GTKTube.
- Search YouTube for videos and channels without signing in.
- Personalized home feed with recommended videos (requires browser cookies).
- Subscribe and unsubscribe locally; no Google account, OAuth, cookies, or account sync.
- Play videos inside the GTK app with libmpv.
- Choose playback quality and speed, including speeds up to 4x.
- Use normal playback shortcuts for play/pause, seeking, fullscreen, and speed changes.
- Keep watching while browsing with a mini-player.
- Save videos to Watch Later.
- Track watch history locally, including watched time ranges rather than only a last position.
- Search and review local watch history.
- Optionally configure yt-dlp to extract browser cookies to play age-restricted and members-only videos.
- Optionally use SponsorBlock to show and skip community-maintained segment ranges.
- Limit how many videos a single channel can put in each feed day.
- Refresh subscriptions in parallel with per-channel progress in the sidebar.
- Check PyPI for updates and upgrade/restart from inside the app.
- Store thumbnails on disk and app data in SQLite.
## Screenshots
### Channel Browsing
### Player
### Mini-Player
## Install
```sh
pipx ensurepath
pipx install --system-site-packages gtktube
gtktube --install-desktop
```
GTKTube also needs GTK4/PyGObject, libmpv, and a JavaScript runtime for yt-dlp
from your Linux distribution.
If required system dependencies are missing, the app can launch a small installer helper.
## Run
GTKTube installs a desktop app entry, so you can launch it from your normal Linux app launcher.
You can also run it from a terminal:
```sh
gtktube
```
When launched as the installed `gtktube` command, GTKTube also installs or updates
its desktop launcher entry in your user application directory. If your desktop
environment does not show it immediately after installation, run `gtktube` once
from a terminal or run `gtktube --install-desktop`.
Useful startup flags:
- `gtktube --show-upgrade` opens the upgrade dialog even when GTKTube has not detected a newer version.
- `gtktube --show-deps-installer` opens the system dependency installer even when GTKTube thinks dependencies are present.
- `gtktube --db /path/to/gtktube.sqlite3` uses a specific SQLite database file.
- `gtktube --install-desktop` installs the desktop launcher entry and exits.
- `gtktube -v` or `gtktube --verbose` prints detailed playback diagnostics to stderr.
Development runs with `python -m gtktube` do not auto-install a desktop launcher or check PyPI for upgrades.
## Updates
When launched from an installed `gtktube` command, GTKTube checks PyPI for newer
releases. If an update is available, the app can run the appropriate upgrade
command and restart itself. Pipx installs use `pipx upgrade gtktube`; other
installs use `python3 -m pip install --upgrade gtktube`.
## Data Storage
GTKTube keeps its state on your machine:
- subscriptions and watch history in SQLite
- thumbnail cache under the user cache directory
- no Google account integration
- no cloud sync
- no analytics or tracking by GTKTube
## License
GTKTube is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See `LICENSE`.