Creating a YouTube Video Downloader with Python: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Hello devs! I'm excited to share my first open-source project with you—a YouTube Video Downloader built using Python. This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating your own video downloader, from setting up the environment to the final implementation. Whether you're a beginner or looking for a fun project to improve your Python skills, this guide is for you!

Prerequisites

Before we start, make sure you have the following:

• Python installed on your machine
• Basic understanding of Python programming
• Internet connection to download necessary libraries

Step 1: Setting Up the Environment

First, we need to install the pytube library, which will handle the YouTube video downloading process. Open your terminal and run:

pip install pytube

Step 2: Writing the Code

Create a new Python file, youtube_downloader.py, and open it in your favorite code editor. Let's start by importing the necessary libraries:

from pytube import YouTube
import os

Next, let's create a function to download the video:

def download_video(url, save_path):
    try:
        yt = YouTube(url)
        ys = yt.streams.get_highest_resolution()
        print(f"Downloading: {yt.title}")
        ys.download(save_path)
        print("Download completed!")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")

Now, let's add the main part of our script that will prompt the user for the video URL and the save path:

if __name__ == "__main__":
    url = input("Enter the YouTube video URL: ")
    save_path = input("Enter the path where the video will be saved: ")
    if not os.path.exists(save_path):
        os.makedirs(save_path)
    download_video(url, save_path)

Step 3: Running the Script

To run the script, open your terminal, navigate to the directory where your youtube_downloader.py file is located, and execute:

python youtube_downloader.py

Follow the prompts, and your video will be downloaded to the specified location!

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just created a YouTube Video Downloader using Python. This project is a great way to practice working with external libraries and handling user input. Feel free to expand on this project by adding more features, such as downloading playlists or choosing video quality.

I'd love to hear your feedback and see how you enhance this project. Happy coding!

GitHub Repository

I've also uploaded the complete code to GitHub. Check it out here.