All I wanted is to install the current yt-dlp (2024.07.16-1) on debian 12.6.
Suggested way to that according to https://packages.debian.org/sid/all/yt-dlp/download is to add that line to that file (etc/apt/sources.list), but do I really need to download the 1600 files that upgrade would entail?
I don’t want to download the tar.gz 'cause upgrading that would be a pain.
pipx install yt-dlpThis will install yt-dlp with everything it needs but without fucking anything else up, both system-wise and for your user (because installing python packages in your home manually can cause problems). You must have your
$HOME/.local/binin$PATHto then be able to runyt-dlp, but I think pipx will check and warn you.pipx upgrade yt-dlpto update it (or upgrade-all)That’s what I do, except I straight up create the python venv in a folder, activate it and then do
pip install yt-dlp. No messing up with my system.pipxdoes that without this manual process - it’s meant for these standalone apps that are in your$PATH.It’s a good concept, I just have to look it up and understand exactly what it is doing before I start using it.
Wanting latest packages on debian
The latest yt-dlp is in bookworm-backports.
I would advise just creating
~/.binor~/.local/share/binand dropping it in there. As long as you have permission to that directory, yt-dlp should be able to easily update itself.this is the way. easy. no install. no extra steps. update when you want.
or you can add the ppa that’s listed in the yt-dlp install instructions (scroll down to third-party package managers > apt) and use apt to install it like any other package.
You’re adding the full repository of Debian unstable to your system. This wouldn’t just enable you to install yt-dlp but it would also turn your whole system from Debian stable to Debian unstable on the next update. Total overkill for one package.
Do not do this. You’ll create a Frankendebian and your updates could (and probably will) break your system. Try to use a PPA instead, since Ubuntu is Debian-based.
What you are doing: adding the unstable repository to your Debian system. Debian has three levels of software stability, stable, testing and unstable.
Stable does what is says on the tin. It’s stable, but older. Testing is gonna be the next major version when it’s deemed stable enough to be called stable. Unstable is for trying out new shit and seeing what breaks. It has the most recent packages and the most problems.
Stable and testing will be named after different characters from Toy Story, unstable will always be named after the character “Sid” from Toy Story.
In the context of what you’re trying to do, you are fucking up.
Yt-dlp can (and should in most cases) update itself by using the command “yt-dlp -U”. But it will only update itself that way if you manually install it from the git page.
You can do this by downloading it and putting it somewhere in your users $path. This is just like putting a program folder in windows in c:\program files and making a start menu entry manually, except you won’t make the start menu entry because your shell will always look in $path to see if it can run what you just typed. If you’re familiar with Macs, it’s literally like copying the program to your applications directory.
There’s instructions how to manually install on the yt-dlp git.
You should do yt-dlp this way unless you have a good reason to use the Debian repos or pip.
E: once you get yourself straightened out, make sure to add “yt-dlp -U” to all your scripts before they actually run. It keeps you from getting the wrong quality profile or downloads from failing or whatever.
Just install it via
pipand then symlink its binary file to/usr/bin.t. Am running a live stream 24/7 on my orange pi zero 3 (via ffplay/yt-dlp) since forever.
“Why not simply add
$HOME/.local/binto$PATH?”Because it breaks things. While symlinking it does not.
“Why?”
No idea, honestly.
Also, you can take a step further and make a tmpfs partition @
$HOME/.localand then add the following line to your .bash_profile file:TMPDIR=$HOME/.local pip install --break-system-packages -I --no-input yt-dlp &&.use
pipx installor your distro’s package instead ofpip install --break-system-packagesApparently pipx dislikes tmpfs partitions, so nah.
why would you want to nuke your installed cli apps on every boot with a tmpfs
Eh, it’s a tradeoff that I get in exchange of a longer microsd lifespan. Which I’m completely fine with.
Debian sid is their unstable branch; it contains all new packages before they are tested. As such, if you try to install updates from it, you’ll likely get a very unstable system.
You can set it up so that you only get a specific package ( https://wiki.debian.org/DebianUnstable#Can_I_use_Sid_packages_on_.22testing.22.3F ), but honestly, if you need the very latest version, I’d recommend just grabbing it from github or wherever. Iirc, yt-dlp has a
-Uflag which will automatically update it.It’s best to install yt-dlp manually and let it self update. It needs to be kept on the latest version since youtube is constantly breaking things. It’s only a single file and it can be installed in any directory in your
$PATH.This is the way.
If you want the latest version of most python apps, I’d recommend using
pipx, since it’ll create python virtual environments for each app installed, and won’t mess with system packages.In best scenario you’ll turn your Debian to SID. Worst case scenario you’ll break your system.
I do not suggest this operation unless you’re sure what you’re doing.
Alternatively you can install
yt-dlpusing snap or using Nix Package managerJust use pip
@merompetehla If you’re not running sid, do not look for install instructions on the sid page. If you’re on 12.6, that’s Bookworm (current stable name), look there for help with 12 stuff.
Best way to use the current #yt-dlp is to uninstall the one from the repo, and grab the current release from the github page and drop it in
$PATHsomewhere.If you want something easier to manage you can use Parabolic which is a graphical interface for yt-dlp that you can install as a flatpak.
