Hello fellow developers! 👋
Like many of you, I consume a lot of content across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. But whenever I wanted to download a video or an audio clip for offline use or editing, I had to deal with sketchy websites filled with pop-under ads, or browser extensions that felt like malware.
This weekend, I decided I had enough. I fired up my IDE and built my own solution.
Enter ALİDWD — an open-source, ad-free desktop media downloader built with Python, paired with its own custom Chrome extension.
🛠️ The Tech Stack
- Backend/GUI: Python & PyQt5
-
Engine:
yt-dlp(The absolute goat) and anonymous APIs for TikTok. - Frontend (Extension): Vanilla JavaScript & CSS (Manifest V3)
- Database: SQLite (for download history)
✨ What Makes It Different?
I didn't want just another GUI wrapper. I wanted it to be incredibly fast and integrated into my workflow. Here are the features I’m most proud of:
- Browser Injection (Chrome Extension): Once installed, it injects a tiny, non-intrusive download button directly into the DOM of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. You click it, and the desktop app downloads the media silently in the background.
-
Global Hotkey Magic: You can assign a hotkey (e.g.,
D). If you're watching an Instagram Story or a YouTube Short, just pressDon your keyboard, and the video is instantly downloaded. No mouse movement required! -
Smart Foldering: It doesn't dump everything into your
Downloadsfolder. It parses the URL and automatically organizes files. For example, if you download a TikTok video, it creates a folder likeTikTok/@usernameand saves it there. - Library & History: A built-in SQLite database tracks everything you download, accessible via a neat Library tab in the UI.
📦 Try It Out!
The project is completely open-source and free. If you don't want to mess with the code, I also compiled a ready-to-use .exe setup file using PyInstaller and Inno Setup.
🔗 [https://github.com/vxcvcxv/T-m-siteler-Video-Downloader.git]
I would love to hear your thoughts on this! If you find any bugs, have feature requests, or want to contribute to the codebase, feel free to open an issue or a PR.
What is your go-to method for downloading media right now? Let's discuss in the comments! 👇
Top comments (1)
Great example of turning a common frustration into a practical tool. Downloader sites are often filled with intrusive ads, questionable redirects, and poor user experiences, so building a cleaner workflow is a meaningful improvement.
I like the combination of Python backend logic with a Chrome extension because it creates a smoother user experience while keeping the core functionality maintainable. The interesting engineering challenges will be around security, handling different content sources, and ensuring reliable performance over time.
Projects like this are a good reminder that many useful tools start by solving small everyday annoyances. Nice work building a focused solution!