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yt-dlp/yt-dlp-sample-plugins

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

★ 70PythonAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

A sample plugin package showing developers how to structure and install a Python plugin that extends yt-dlp, the popular video download tool.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((yt-dlp sample plugin))
    What it does
      Plugin template
      Extends yt-dlp
      Installable package
    Tech stack
      Python
      pip
    Use cases
      Add new site support
      Learn plugin structure
      Modify behavior
    Requirements
      yt-dlp 2023.01.02+
    Audience
      Plugin developers

Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Use as a starting template for building a custom yt-dlp plugin

USE CASE 2

Learn how to package a yt-dlp plugin for pip installation

USE CASE 3

Add support for a new website or modify yt-dlp behavior without editing core code

What is it built with?

Pythonpip

How does it compare?

yt-dlp/yt-dlp-sample-pluginshiangx-robotics/metafinemercuriustech/odyseus-spatial-vlm
Stars707070
LanguagePythonPythonPython
Setup difficultyeasyhardhard
Complexity2/55/54/5
Audiencedeveloperresearcherdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Requires yt-dlp version 2023.01.02 or newer.

In plain English

This repository is a sample plugin package for yt-dlp, a popular command-line tool used to download videos from YouTube and hundreds of other websites. The sample is intended as a starting point for developers who want to build their own plugins that extend yt-dlp's functionality. Yt-dlp has a plugin system that allows third parties to add support for new websites or modify existing behavior without changing the core codebase. This repository shows how to structure such a plugin as an installable Python package. Installation is done through pip, Python's standard package manager, using a direct link to the repository archive. The plugin requires yt-dlp version 2023.01.02 or newer. The README is brief and mostly points to external documentation: the yt-dlp plugin reference for usage details and the yt-dlp wiki for plugin development guidance. There is not much content here beyond the installation command and those links, so this repository functions more as a code template than a standalone product.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me use this yt-dlp sample plugin as a template to build my own plugin
Prompt 2
Show me how to package and install a yt-dlp plugin with pip from this example
Prompt 3
Explain how yt-dlp's plugin system lets me extend it without touching core code
Prompt 4
Walk me through the minimum yt-dlp version this plugin sample requires

Frequently asked questions

What is yt-dlp-sample-plugins?

A sample plugin package showing developers how to structure and install a Python plugin that extends yt-dlp, the popular video download tool.

What language is yt-dlp-sample-plugins written in?

Mainly Python. The stack also includes Python, pip.

How hard is yt-dlp-sample-plugins to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is yt-dlp-sample-plugins for?

Mainly developer.

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