Pros of yt-dlp

• More comprehensive support for various video platforms and formats
• Actively maintained with frequent updates and bug fixes
• Extensive command-line options for advanced users

Cons of yt-dlp

• Steeper learning curve for beginners
• Requires command-line interface usage
• Larger file size and more dependencies

Code comparison

yt-dlp (Python):

ydl_opts = {'format': 'bestaudio/best'}
with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
    ydl.download(['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ'])

Seal (Kotlin):

val url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
val downloader = Downloader(context)
downloader.download(url)

yt-dlp is a powerful, feature-rich command-line tool for downloading videos from various platforms, offering extensive options and broad compatibility. It's ideal for advanced users and developers who need flexibility and control.

Seal, on the other hand, is a more user-friendly Android app focused on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a graphical interface and is better suited for casual users who prefer a straightforward mobile solution for downloading videos.

Pros of youtube-dl

• Extensive support for a wide range of websites and platforms
• Highly customizable with numerous command-line options
• Active development and frequent updates

Cons of youtube-dl

• Command-line interface may be less user-friendly for some users
• Requires separate installation of FFmpeg for certain features
• Can be complex to use for basic downloading tasks

Code Comparison

youtube-dl (Python):

from __future__ import unicode_literals
import youtube_dl

ydl_opts = {}
with youtube_dl.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
    ydl.download(['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ'])

Seal (Kotlin):

import com.junkfood.seal.util.DownloadUtil

val url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
DownloadUtil.downloadVideo(url)

Summary

youtube-dl is a powerful and versatile tool for downloading media from various websites, offering extensive customization options and broad platform support. However, its command-line interface and complexity may be challenging for some users. Seal, on the other hand, provides a more user-friendly interface with a focus on simplicity, making it easier for casual users to download videos. While youtube-dl offers more advanced features and wider website support, Seal aims to simplify the downloading process for common use cases.

Pros of NewPipe

• More mature project with a larger community and longer development history
• Supports a wider range of features, including background playback and pop-up mode
• Allows downloading of audio and video content

Cons of NewPipe

• Larger app size due to more features and dependencies
• May have a steeper learning curve for new users due to its extensive feature set
• Requires more frequent updates to maintain compatibility with YouTube changes

Code Comparison

NewPipe uses Java, while Seal is written in Kotlin. Here's a brief comparison of how they handle video playback:

NewPipe:

private void initializePlayer() {
    if (player == null) {
        player = new SimpleExoPlayer.Builder(context).build();
        playerView.setPlayer(player);
    }
}

Seal:

private fun initializePlayer() {
    player = ExoPlayer.Builder(this).build().apply {
        playWhenReady = true
        videoSurfaceView?.player = this
    }
}

Both projects use ExoPlayer for video playback, but Seal's Kotlin implementation is more concise and uses modern language features.

Pros of YoutubeDownloader

• More mature project with a longer development history
• Supports a wider range of video platforms beyond YouTube
• Offers a graphical user interface (GUI) for easier use by non-technical users

Cons of YoutubeDownloader

• Less actively maintained, with fewer recent updates
• Primarily designed for Windows, limiting cross-platform compatibility
• Larger codebase, potentially making it more complex to contribute to or modify

Code Comparison

Seal (Kotlin):

private fun downloadVideo(url: String, format: String) {
    val video = YoutubeDL.getInstance().getInfo(url)
    val outputTemplate = "${video.title}.${format}"
    YoutubeDL.getInstance().execute(
        YoutubeDLRequest(url).setOption("format", format).setOption("output", outputTemplate)
    )
}

YoutubeDownloader (C#):

public async Task<string> DownloadVideoAsync(string videoUrl, string format)
{
    var video = await YouTube.Videos.GetAsync(videoUrl);
    var streamInfo = video.Streams.First(s => s.Container.Name == format);
    var fileName = $"{video.Title}.{format}";
    await YouTube.Videos.DownloadAsync(videoUrl, fileName, streamInfo);
    return fileName;
}

Both projects implement video downloading functionality, but Seal uses the yt-dlp library wrapped in Kotlin, while YoutubeDownloader uses a custom C# implementation. Seal's approach may offer better maintainability due to leveraging an established library, while YoutubeDownloader's custom implementation could provide more control over the download process.